Palestinians rally around ailing Arafat

Palestinian officials have said that a three-member committee had been chosen to handle day-to-day affairs in the event that Arafat—who has always refused to designate a successor—is incapacitated. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, also said that all Palestinian security forces had been ordered to report for duty.

Those arriving at the Palestinian leader’s compound late-night Wednesday included PM Ahmed Qurei and his predecessor, Mahmoud Abbas. Both were once very close to Arafat, but quarreled sharply with him upon assuming the post of prime minister. Sources said both men and senior Palestine Liberation Organization official Salim Zanoun, were named to the panel that was given emergency powers. Arafat approved a decree creating the panel.

Arafat’s estranged wife, Suha and daughter Zahwa were to arrive in Ramallah on Thursday. —LAT-WP