Abbas sacks long-time critic from PLO

An official says that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has dismissed a long-time critic from the No. 2 job in the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) in what is seen as his latest move to side-line potential rivals.

Ahmed Majdalani, a senior PLO member, says Yasser Abed Rabbo was removed as PLO secretary general in a leadership meeting late Tuesday headed by Abbas, the organization's leader.

The Executive Committee of the PLO has agreed for Abbas to take on Abed Rabbo's tasks until another person is appointed as secretary general.

Participants in Tuesday's session say Abbas told them he's sacking Abed Rabbo for failing to attend recent meetings.

Abed Rabbo didn't participate in the last two meetings of the Executive Committee because he was abroad.

Some sources say that Abed Rabbo was dismissed from his duties because of a dispute with Abbas and failing to perform tasks he was intrusted with.

Abed Rabbo has criticised Abbas' policies and leadership style. Abbas has alleged in closed-door meetings that Abed Rabbo is part of a group of Palestinian politicians trying to undermine him with financial support from the United Arab Emirates.

According to the sources, the Executive Committee has decided to make a cabinet reshuffle and to keep consultations and communications going to form a national unity government.