RAMALLAH, West Bank, Oct 5: Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on Sunday named an eight-member emergency cabinet, prime minister-designate Ahmed Qorei said.

Mr Arafat also proclaimed a state of emergency in the Palestinian territories, in a special decree he issued naming Ahmed Qorei as his new prime minister, officials said.

“President Arafat has signed a decree creating an eight- member emergency government,” Qorei said.

He said the government would “operate for one month” after which it would seek the approval of the parliamentary Palestinian Legislative Council. —AFP