RAMALLAH, March 10: The Palestinian parliament on Monday approved the appointment of a prime minister before launching a landmark debate on the powers to accompany the new office, a move which could see Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat forced to share his sweeping executive mandate.

Mr Arafat has nominated his moderate deputy in the PLO, Mahmud Abbas, for the post, and the PLO’s Central Council on Saturday endorsed the candidate, also known as Abu Mazen.—Reuters