Palestinian President Mr Yasser Arafat today called today for sweeping reforms of the Palestinian Authority and promised elections by early autumn.
In a defiant speech to the Palestinian parliament, Mr Arafat blasted Israel's use of force to try to quell the 19-month-old uprising against Israeli occupation. But he said peace remained his strategic goal and the struggle for an independent Palestinian state would continue.
"It is the time for change and reform," Mr Arafat said in a speech to the Palestinian Legislative Council in Ramallah.
Mr Arafat has told the European Union that he plans to organise legislative and municipal elections at the end of the summer or early autumn.
Speaking at the European Parliament, EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said Mr Arafat had "let it be known to me that he had the intention to put into place" elections at both levels "as soon as possible, either at the end of the summer or the start of the fall."
The legislative elections, for a new Palestinian Legislative Council, would precede the municipal polls, Mr Solana said.
Mr Arafat's comments responded to demands for change in the Palestinian Authority from Palestinians and the United States after years of failure to bring prosperity and following charges of cronyism, corruption and inefficiency.
AFP