Palestinian leader refuses to disband his cabinet

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Last Update: Thursday, October 27, 2005. 0:03am (AEST)
Palestinian leader refuses to disband his cabinet

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has said he would not fire his cabinet, defying law-makers who had demanded the government's dismissal over its failure to halt lawlessness.

The speaker of parliament responded by saying he would start laying the groundwork for a no-confidence vote to bring down the government, which Dr Abbas vowed to keep in place until parliamentary elections due in January.

Dr Abbas criticised deputies for seeking the cabinet's dismissal in the run-up to the polls, in which Islamic militant group Hamas is expected to mount a serious challenge to his ruling Fatah party.

He vowed to hold the ballot on time, brushing aside speculation that he might delay the vote over disarray in Fatah. The vote will be the Palestinians' first national election since Israel quit Gaza last month after 38 years of occupation.

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-Reuters

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200510/s1491560.htm