GAZA -- Rawhi Fatouh, speaker of the Palestinian Parliament, was sworn in as temporary president of the Palestinian Authority Thursday afternoon, officials said. Hassan Khreisha, a member of the Palestinian Parliament, announced that Fatouh would lead the Palestinian Authority for 60 days following the death early Thursday of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
The Palestinian Authority has finalized preparations for the burial of Arafat at al Muqata'a, its headquarters in the West Bank town of Ramallah.
According to Palestinian law, Fatouh will lead the Palestinian Authority until general and presidential elections are held in 60 days.
Khreisha told reporters that the first message he wanted to send the international community was that the Palestinian people, in their current difficult situation, still stand behind their legitimate leadership.
"We insist on practicing real democracy, and we call on the international community to help us practice our democracy and choose our leadership," Khreisha said.
