AMMAN, 26 July 2004 — A pro-reform Palestinian politician, who escaped an assassination attempt in Ramallah on Tuesday, was flown to Germany yesterday for “further treatment”, according to the head of his medical team.
Nabil Amr, a former information minister, underwent a complicated surgery in Amman on Wednesday, but “the medical team today decided to shift him to Germany, where he will receive further treatment to rehabilitate his injured leg”, Dr. Ashraf Kurdi said.
“Amr was flown aboard a special plane which has been donated by President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Zayed ibn Sultan Al-Nahyan, who will also be paying the expenses,” he added.
“We have removed a blocking in his leg vessels as well as bullets and averted him the eventuality of an amputation, but he has to stay in Germany perhaps for months to receive further treatment,” Kuri said.
Amr, an ardent critic of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, was assaulted by unknown assailants at his residence in Ramallah on Tuesday, and reports from the Palestinian territories suggested the attack was linked to his recurrent calls for reforms in the Palestinian administration.
In Amman, Amr pledged not to give up his reformist drive, saying what at stake was supreme Palestinian interests.
The Islamic Action Front, Jordan’s largest political party, has expressed concern over the power struggle inside the Palestinian Authority, and urged a speedy end for the current situation.
“We do realize there is corruption in the Palestinian Authority as it is the case in most other Arab regimes, but we believe combating corruption should not take place with a US subscription, but rather with a national decision and through responsible dialogue,” the IAF said in a statement.
