Palestinian PM offers resignation

Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad addresses the media during a news conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah in this Sept 11, 2012 file photo. Fayyad offered his resignation to President Mahmoud Abbas on April 10, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

RAMALLAH - Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad has submitted his resignation, awaiting President Mahmoud Abbas to approve it, an official from Abbas' Fatah party said Thursday.

Fayyad decided to quit over a dispute with Abbas over Finance Minister Nabil Qassis' resignation. Qassis resigned last month and Fayyad accepted the offer without consulting with Abbas, the official told Xinhua.

"Fayyad has put his resignation at the disposal of the presidency office so Abbas can deal with it when he returns from Jordan later today," he said.

Majeda Al-Massri, minister of social affairs, told Xinhua that Fayyad has hinted at stepping down, but she has no information that Fayyad already asked for resignation.

A member of Fatah Central Committee, Azzam Al-Ahmad, said Fayyad's resignation would be decided when Abbas returns from Jordan.

"Fayyad has violated the basic law by allowing Qassis to depart without consulting the president," he said.

Fayyad, 61, served as a World Bank expert before being nominated by Abbas to form the West Bank-based government after Islamic Hamas movement took over Gaza in 2007.