Jerusalem: Amid growing confusion over the future of Palestinian leadership in post-Arafat era, the veteran leader is said to have issued a last political Will in which he suggests that the head of the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organisation) politburo, Farouk Kadoumi, based in Tunis, succeed him.

According to media reports quoting senior Palestinian officials, Yasser Arafat is said to have mentioned in his Will that Kadoumi will accept the position of PLO chairman but will not serve as leader of the Palestinian Authority (PA) in light of his objection to the Oslo Peace Accords.

Arafat reportedly handed over the copies of his last Will to his wife Suha and his cousin Nasser al-Kidwa, who serves as Palestinian Ambassador to the UN.

A senior official close to the PA chairman is said to have strengthened claims by saying that the leader in his last moments of clarity asked to summon Kadoumi to his bed in order to tell him "something important."

The officials are said to have added that if Kadoumi does accept the position, he would head the PA together with Abu Ala, while former security chiefs Mohammad Dahlan and Jibril Rajoub would be their subordinates.

Palestinian Defence officials reportedly said that Rajoub and Dahlan have agreed to such an arrangement.

The relationship between Kadoumi and Arafat has had its share of ups and downs. The signing of the 1993 Oslo Accords separated them, as Kadoumi joined the Opposition and refused to enter the territories.

However, about a year ago, their relationship appeared to be back on track.