 New Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has fired dozens of advisers to late leader Yasser Arafat, the first sign of a big shakeup since he was elected, officials said on Wednesday. Abbas is under pressure at home and abroad to clean up the corrupt structures bequeathed by Arafat, who died on Nov 11 after decades as leader of the Palestinian fight for a state. Officials said Abbas had fired 50 of 55 civilian and military advisers — though well over 1,000 staff were still employed by Arafat's office in the West Bank city of Ramallah. "It's an empire," said one official. "This is an important step that will be followed by more such changes to make administrative and security reforms." |