Ramallah: Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on September 6 accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Mahmud Abbas, sources close to Arafat said.

Meanwhile, in Jerusalem, a senior Israeli official said Abbas remained Israel's sole partner in the peace process.

"Israel is closely following the crisis unfold," the official added, stressing it was "an internal Palestinian affair" and that one should still "wait until the resignation comes into effect."

Agencies