Abbas dismisses Rafiq Husseini, appoints investigation committee

Published today (updated) 14/02/2010 15:24

Bethlehem – Ma'an –

Acting Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, dismissed Rafiq Husseini, his chief of staff, on Sunday following the leak of a videotape that apparently shows Husseini propositioning a job applicant for sex in Ramallah.

Abbas said he has formed an investigation committee headed by the Fatah Central Committee's secretary-general, Abu Maher Ghneim, and including committee member Azzam Al-Ahmad and the head of the Palestinian high court, Rafiq Al-Natsheh.

The committee will investigate allegations of corruption put forth in footage and documents provided to an Israeli news network by Fahmi Shabana, the former head of the PA's anti-corruption department.

Shabana said he initiated the sting when the applicant informed PA intelligence of Husseini's alleged misuse of his seniority in the US-backed government.

According to the official PA news agency Wafa, the committee will present its findings in three weeks. Abbas has officially dismissed Husseini from his post, pending the results of the investigation, Wafa reported.

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