Abbas U-turn on war crimes report

[IndianaGreen]

Abbas U-turn on war crimes report

Sunday 04 October 2009

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas faced growing outrage at home on Sunday over his decision to withdraw support for a United Nations report that accused Israel of committing war crimes in last winter's Gaza war.

Mr Abbas's U-turn is the result of intense US pressure, Palestinian officials said.

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Palestine Liberation Organisation leaders met on Saturday night and demanded action.

Planning Minister Ali Jarbawi said that he would seek an explanation at a cabinet meeting today.

"The government decided to go ahead with the Goldstone report until the end, but someone made a mistake," he said. "There was a wrong decision and this is terribly bad."

Abbas aides defended the decision, saying that the Palestinians needed more time to win international support for the Goldstone report.

But Mr Abbas's spokesman said that Palestinian Economics Minister Bassem Khouri had resigned. It was unclear whether this was in protest at Mr Abbas's decision and Mr Khouri declined to comment.

In Gaza City, hundreds of school and university students skipped classes to stage a protest march on Saturday, while Gazans injured during the war - some missing limbs or using wheelchairs - organised a news conference.

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/index.php/news/world/Abbas-U-turn-on-war-crimes-report