Palestinian PM to set up new cabinet by next week as top Tanzim activist shot dead by Israeli forces in Tulkarem

Published October 28th, 2003 - 03:00 GMT

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei, also known as Abu Ala has begun contacts aimed at forming a new Palestinian

government by next week.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Sha'ath said Tuesday

that Qurei had agreed to a request by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to set up the new government to replace an

emergency cabinet whose term expires on November 4.

"Abu Ala has been asked once again to form the new government," Sha'ath told reporters.

"The plan is to have this government ready" by the time the term of the emergency cabinet expires, Sha'ath said. "We do not want any more time wasted."

Meanwhile, according to Palestinian sources, a senior Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades activist was fatally shot Tuesday afternoon in the Tulkarem refugee camp.

The sources said a special Israeli army unit infiltrated the camp and shot dead Ibrahim Nanish, who was in his twenties. In the incident, several other Palestinians were injured.

For its part, the Israeli army said the Palestinian opened fire at the troops who came to arrest him. According to them, M-16s and magazines were also found on his body.

In addition, the military sources said another Palestinian opened fire at the Israeli soldiers from an adjacent shop. The soldiers returned fire and injured him. He was taken to a Tulkarem hospital for treatment. (Albawaba.com)