Arafat refuses to sign anti-corruption legislation

[Gimel]

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has rebuffed the latest challenge to his authority, refusing to sign anti-corruption legislation demanded by lawmakers.

In a speech to parliament, Arafat admitted Wednesday to making "mistakes" and pledged to clean up the Palestinian Authority.

Although he refrained from saying what the mistakes were, the remarks were among Arafat's strongest since Palestinian areas were rocked by unprecedented internal turmoil last month, amid a clamor for reforms to security forces and the removal of officials accused of graft.

But in a "stormy and tense" follow-up meeting late Wednesday, Arafat told pro-reform lawmakers "that his speech ... was enough and that there is no need for any signatures," said Azmi Shouabi, one of the meeting's participants.

Continued..

[aquart]

1. In many ways, Arafat is their Bush.

Pity the poor Palestinians. They don't have any constitutional traditions or guarantees to help them fight.

[Gimel]

2. A Bush

This "Bush" is burnt out, but none-the-less has a lifetime term of office, apparently.