Ramallah, West Bank, Sept 27: The Fatah Central Committee approved today the Cabinet presented here by Palestinian premier-designate Ahmed Qorei, including Nasser Yusuf as new Security Chief and Interior Minister, party officials said.
Fatah officials approved the list of 24 names, a senior party official told a news agency on condition of anonymity, saying it included at least 10 people who served in previous governments before the appointment of outgoing Prime Minister Mahmud Abbas in April. The key name on the list was that of General Yusuf, who will take over the interior ministry in the position formerly held by Mohammed Dahlan.
"Nasser Yusuf will be the interior minister," central committee member Abbas Zaaki told journalists after the meeting.

"We discussed the names of the new cabinet and there is agreement within the Fatah Central Committee," senior Palestinian official Hani al-Hassan said.

Half of the 24 positions would be filled with new faces, he said, adding there was "good representation" for factions outside of Fatah.

But another senior party official said the committee had approved all but four names on the list.

He did not give further details but said a final decision about the four would be made when Qorei presents the list to the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) executive committee later in the day.
The list will be taken to the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) early next week.


Bureau Report