Abbas amends election law by decree ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency May 18, 2012 - 12:00am RAMALLAH (Ma’an) -- President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday issued an executive order amending the 2005 election law as a precursor to holding a municipal vote sooner than scheduled, an official said. The minister of local governance, Khaled Qawasmi, told Voice of Palestine radio that the decree would help the new government take a decision to hold elections "as soon as possible." He added that the law would allow holding an election in more than one stage in case more than a day was needed. » Read more

Interpol 'refuses to help' in Arafat adviser case ATFP World Press Roundup Article from Ma'an News Agency May 18, 2012 - 12:00am BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Interpol is refusing to cooperate with Palestinian prosecutors to summon a former presidential economic adviser to the West Bank to answer corruption charges, the attorney-general said Friday. Ahmad al-Mughni told Ma'an that Muhammad Rashid, who served former President Yasser Arafat, has failed to respond to repeated summons. » Read more