News roundup of the Middle East

A summary of the news and links to some 16 articles

Palestinians Back Premier Post, Cut Arafat's Power
The Palestinian parliament created the post of prime minister Tuesday, taking a major step toward U.S.-sought reforms and rebuffing Yasser Arafat's attempts to retain a say in forming the next Cabinet. (2) In the West Bank, Israeli forces killed two top Hamas fugitives accused in a string of shootings and bombings that killed dozens of Israelis. (2) Demonstrators in Manhattan disputed that yesterday Israeli forces fought their way into a Gaza Strip refugee camp yesterday, triggering one of a series of fierce gunfights that left 10 Palestinians dead. (8) Palestinian witnesses said the victims at the Nuseirat camp, a terrorist stronghold, included a 4-year-old girl killed by tank fire in her home. (8) Israeli soldiers on a sweep in the West Bank village of Baka al-Hatab, near Qalqiliya, shot and killed Nasser Asida a top commander of Hamas' military wing, the army said. (10) Palestinian security officials and hospital spokesmen said those killed today included a militant, two Palestinian security force members, and four civilians aged 19 or younger. (9) Witnesses said Rachel Corrie from Olympia, Wash., was trying to stop the bulldozer from tearing down a building in the Rafah refugee camp, witnesses said, when she was run over. (15 )

Note: whenever a Palestinian gets killed, the news account is always "according to witnesses," that is, Paletinians telling it their way--distortions of reality.[click for links to articles]