Ramallah: Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas resigned on September 6, dealing a serious blow to US-backed peace efforts.

Abbas submitted his resignation in a letter to Yasser Arafat, chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said. It was not immediately clear whether Arafat would accept Abbas' resignation.

The beleaguered Prime Minister, on the job only four months, told the Palestine Parliament earlier this week that it must either back him or strip him of his post, saying he is not clinging to the job and would just as soon step down.

Agencies