Palestinian mediators tried today to resolve a dispute over security powers between prime minister-designate Mr Mahmoud Abbas and President Yasser Arafat that could delay a new Middle East peace plan.
Failure to form a cabinet dedicated to democratic reforms would hold up US presentation of a long-awaited "road map" towards peace between Palestinians and Israel. A self-imposed deadline for installing the cabinet expires on Wednesday.
Mr Abbas, known as Abu Mazen, wants former Gaza security chief Mr Mohammed Dahlan to become interior minister in charge of Palestinian security forces that would be called upon to crack down on militants fighting Israel under the peace plan.
But Mr Arafat, who reluctantly bowed to pressure from US and other international mediators to name a prime minister, has resisted Mr Dahlan's appointment and the international bid to loosen the presidential grip on security and peace diplomacy.
Mediators, such as cabinet minister Mr Nabil Shaath, Arafat aide Mr Tayyeb Abdel-Rahim and two other senior officials of his Fatah faction, have been shuttling between Mr Arafat's office and Mr Abbas carrying a bridging proposal.
Palestinian officials said it called for naming Mr Dahlan to the cabinet, but as a minister without portfolio.