Jerusalem: Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei has submitted his resignation to Chairman Yasser Arafat in protest against the latter's failure to carry out reforms, media reports said.

A key aide to Qurei offered "no comments" on the reports but Palestinian sources said the Prime Minister has "in fact" done so saying this time it is "final".

The latest crisis is said to have emerged over a planned meeting of the donor countries in New York. The PA has threatened to boycott the conference because its agenda does not include the "road map" plan for peace in the Middle East.

Qurei reportedly had asked the donors to postpone the conference, which was supposed to focus on Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip, without consulting with Arafat.

Arafat is said to have used "harsh language" on hearing the Prime Minister's initiative accusing him of acting beyond his authority.

Qurei has threatened to quit several times in the past few months demanding that real powers be vested in his authority, but was persuaded by Arafat to withdraw on promises of reforms.