April 9, 2003	Wednesday	Safar 6, 1424

RAMALLAH, April 8: Facing an imminent deadline to form a new government, Palestinian prime minister Mahmud Abbas is meeting dogged resistance to change from his boss Yasser Arafat and has even threatened to quit in protest at the obstacles being presented, officials here said on Tuesday.

And Abbas, also known by his nom de guerre Abu Mazen, was “astonished” by the corruption he uncovered in a fact-finding mission to Gaza after he was appointed on March 19, said one official who asked not to be named.

Abbas was tapped by Arafat amid huge domestic and international pressure on the veteran leader to share power and allow reforms of his heavily-criticized regime.

But as Abbas struggles to form a new government by the Thursday deadline, administration insiders have said he has gone as far as threatening to resign as Arafat opposed the replacement of ministers he himself appointed. He also pushed for others who have in the past quarrelled with Arafat.

Abbas has spent much of his time so far in Gaza, which unlike the West Bank has not been reoccupied by Israel and where the Palestinian Authority, set up under the 1993 Oslo accords and headed by Arafat, still functions.

After extensive talks with various factions and individuals, private sector business and human rights workers, Abbas was “astonished by the degree of corruption” he found, especially in the security apparatus, one official said.

The range of abuses by the security services ranged from protection rackets to major mismanagement.

When he returned to the Fatah Central Committee on Saturday he told Arafat he was ready to quit, insiders said, but stressed they believed the threat was a bargaining tactic.

The two men, co-founders of the mainstream Fatah faction, argued over the role of the security forces and the need for reforms, with Arafat insisting the apparatus was under his jurisdiction and he that would take steps, not Abbas.

Under the new laws passed by the Palestinian parliament last month, Arafat retains control over national security and Abbas holds sway over internal security.

But some observers have noted that many of the security forces have turned into virtually independent militias or armed family clans, especially in the West Bank which Israeli forces have reoccupied for almost 10 months.

While Abbas wants to replace a number of Arafat loyalists, such as interior minister Hani al-Hassan, Arafat has said he can bring in fresh faces to add to those already holding portfolios, according to officials who asked not to be identified.

In particular, Abbas wants to bring in Mohammed Dahlan, the former head of preventive security in the Gaza Strip, as his new interior minister, replacing Central Committee member Al-Hassan.

Despite being backed by many reformists, including the United States, the move was opposed by the Central Committee, which saw the appointment of a Fatah member who is not a committee member as a threat to their standing.

Dahlan is a seen as a tough operator ready to tackle militant factions, but quit last year in a falling-out with Arafat.

Abbas, who was granted by law three weeks to form a government, has until Thursday to announce his line-up. He can however ask for an additional two weeks. After that, Arafat is mandated to name a new premier to draw up a cabinet.

Qadura Fares, a reformist Fatah deputy in parliament, told AFP: “We met last night with Abu Mazen. He said he felt there is a strong desire among people from all levels of society for real change.

“We are optimistic that change will start because there is only one way: either there’ll be change or we’ll all lose.”

Other officials said that leaders of the Tanzim had signalled to Abbas their willingness to back him in pushing through reforms.—AFP