The Palestinian parliament today overwhelmingly approved a new cabinet led by reformist Prime Minister Mr Mahmoud Abbas in a crucial step toward launching a new US-backed Middle East peace plan.
Applause swept the special Palestinian legislative session in the West Bank city of Ramallah as deputies voted 51-18 with three abstentions to endorse Mr Abbas's cabinet list.
Lawmakers kissed and congratulated Mr Abbas, the first Palestinian prime minister, and he pronounced himself "very happy with this Palestinian democracy" despite militant threats to defy his agenda of negotiated peace with Israel.
"I am happy with those who voted in favour and those who voted against. I hope my cabinet and I will not disappoint our people," said Mr Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen.
The new cabinet was to be sworn in tomorrow morning. In Washington, the White House quickly welcomed the vote and said President George W. Bush would soon unveil an international "road map" to peace envisaging a Palestinian state alongside Israel by 2005 after confidence-building steps by both sides.
"The president looks forward to working with the Palestinian Authority, the Palestinian people, the Israeli government, the Israeli people, to advance the cause of peace in the Middle East," said White House spokesman Mr Ari Fleischer.
Washington co-drafted the peace plan with the European Union, the United Nations and Russia in a peacemaking "Quartet".
Quartet sources said its diplomats based in the region met after the vote to prepare to present the "road map" to Israeli and Palestinian leaders "either Wednesday or Thursday".
Violence marred what many Palestinians saw as an historic day in their struggle for a state of their own, with Israeli forces killing three Palestinian militants and a bystander in separate attacks on Tuesday.