The official sources, who spoke in conditions of anonymity, told Xinhua that according to the decree that would be declared within the coming few hours is authorizing Mahmoud Abbas, or Abu Mazen, to form the new PNA cabinet.

Abu Mazen, Secretary General of the executive committee of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and a member of the Palestinian Central Council (PCC), was chosen by Arafat and the PLO to be the new premier.

The sources said that after publishing the decree, Abu Mazen would start immediately to form the new PNA cabinet, and present it before the Palestinian legislative Council (PLC) within two weeks to get a confidence voting.

The sources said that Arafat is expected to meet with Abu Mazen tonight or on Wednesday morning to officially hand him the written presidential decree and ask him to form the cabinet.

Abu Mazen then would start negotiations with PLC members, PCC and PLO executive committee as well as political and Islamic factions and groups, asking them to participate in the new cabinet.

The official decree, that would be published soon, was issued right after Arafat approved the new version of the Palestinian Basic Law which nominates a new Palestinian prime minister to the PNA.

The new Basic Law version was also approved by the PLC during two-day sessions held in the West Bank town of Ramallah.

69 members had voted for the new version while the PLC members number is 88 including Arafat.

Nabil Abu Rudeineh, a top aide to Arafat said that after "Arafat approved the version of the basic law, all the constitutional procedures had finished, and the atmosphere has been prepared for the prime minister to start working soon."

(Xinhua News Agency March 19, 2003)