Abbas appointed head of PLO
2004-11-11 11:59
Ramallah - Former prime minister Mahmud Abbas was appointed the new overall head of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) on Thursday after the death of its long-time leader Yasser Arafat, official sources said.
"Abu Mazen (Abbas) has been appointed head of the PLO," said a source in the Palestinian presidency's office.
The widely-expected decision was confirmed at a meeting of the PLO's decision-making executive committee in the West Bank town of Ramallah.
Arafat, whose death was announced early on Thursday, had been the leader of the PLO since 1969.
Abbas has been acting as caretaker PLO leader since Arafat was admitted to a French military hospital on October 29. - AFP
- SAPA