GNS: Arafat meets Fatah members, Abbas says resignation is final, demos, Shalom

(14 Sep 2003) Ramallah, West Bank 1. Wide shot Yasser Arafat's headquarters 2. Flag flying 3. Cars arriving with Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) Fatah members 4. PLO members entering compound 5. Wide shot Arafat seated with PLO Fatah members 6. Close up of Arafat 7. Various of Arafat sitting with PLO Fatah members during meeting Ramallah, West Bank 8. Various shots of Fatah members leaving Yasser Arafat's office after meeting 9. Various of Parliament Speaker Ahmed Qureia walking past journalists and getting into car 10. Set-up of Arafat's aide Nabil Abu Rdeneh 11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Nabil Abu Rdeneh, Spokesman for Yasser Arafat: "So far, no decision has been taken yet. Abu Mazen remains acting prime minister. If he insists on keeping his resignation, there should be a new appointment. That would be discussed right now and tomorrow. And we hope that within the coming 48 hours, we will have reached the right conclusion." 12. Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas leaving his office, walking towards camera 13. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian Prime Minister: (Asked if he will consider forming a new government) "It is premature to talk about it. My resignation is final." 14. Abbas getting into his car 15. Car drives away Jerusalem 16. Set-up of Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom 17. SOUNDBITE: (English) Silvan Shalom, Israeli Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs: "We are very encouraged by the resolution that was taken yesterday by the EU (to declare all wings of Hamas a terrorist organisation). I think that is a very positive signal to the moderate powers in our region. It shows that the EU, like the Americans, believe that in order to achieve peace in our region, we should prevent all of those who are against the peace process and all of those who are trying to bring mourning and casualties to our region. I hope that this will strengthen the relations between Israel and the EU, and I'm sure it will do it." Jenin, West Bank 18. Various of men holding up guns marching past camera during pro-Arafat demonstration 19. Picture of Yasser Arafat on wall 20. Crowd of marchers and gunmen parading along street Gaza City, Gaza Strip 21. Wide shot of pro-Hamas demonstration along street 22. Woman leading calls on loud-hailer 23. Women marching 24. Men raising hands in the air and shouting during rally showing support for Hamas leader Sheikh Yassin STORYLINE: The search began on Sunday for a successor to Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas, who resigned on Saturday after a debilitating power struggle with Yasser Arafat. Arafat has not yet accepted the resignation in writing, as required by law, but told Palestinian lawmakers he considered Abbas' Cabinet a caretaker government, implying recognition of the resignation. On Sunday, however, Arafat aide Nabil Abu Rdeneh said the leader hoped to persuade Abbas - also known as Abu Mazen - to remain and form a new government. Abu Rdeneh spoke after emerging from a closed-door meeting where Arafat and leaders of his Fatah movement were discussing options. He said that a conclusion would be reached, "within 48 hours". Abbas insisted his decision was final and told a confidant he felt abandoned by all sides and was deeply hurt. But a source close to Abbas said on Sunday that he might serve again, but only if he reached a firm agreement with Arafat on his powers and on the composition of the government beforehand; the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said this would be difficult. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...