The Palestinian Cabinet said Monday night that presidential and parliamentary elections may be held in December.
"The elections for the legislative council and the presidency can take place in December 2002," the leadership said in a statement after a meeting in Ramallah presided over by Yasser Arafat.
"The leadership has formed a ministerial commission to start preparing the municipal and union elections. This commission will start its work immediately," the statement said.
The statement also called on "the international community to help our people exercise its democratic rights and elect its governing bodies in total freedom ... safe from occupation, military escalation and repression."
In addition, the leadership accused the Israeli government of "impeding all Palestinian and international efforts to bring security to the Palestinians. "The moment has come for determined international intervention to bring security to Israelis and Palestinians," the statement added.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian newspaper Al Ayyam reported in its Tuesday's edition that Arafat promised the Palestinian leadership Monday night that he would set up a new government within 10 days.
He is also said to be planning to cut the number of ministerial portfolios from 34 to 20. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
