Top Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) official Hanan Ashrawi has resigned, effective by the end of the year, renewing calls for reform of the organisation.
In her resignation letter, Ms Ashrawi said she met with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on November 24 to inform him of her decision, and that she sent in her resignation two days later.
Unconfirmed reports of Ms Ashrawi's move had been circulating in local media.
"Regrettably, news of my resignation was leaked from 'senior sources' in a misleading and irresponsible manner that lead to conjecture and rumours," she said in a statement posted on Twitter by the PLO.
She said it was time to "reform" the PLO "in a manner that restores its standing and role" rather than its "marginalisation and exclusion from decision-making."
Ms Ashrawi said the Palestinian political system needs "renewal and reinvigoration" and to be more inclusive of qualified professionals, women and young people.
In her letter of resignation, Ms Ashrawi said she hoped her departure would usher in a "new phase" of the PLO's Executive Committee.
Ms Ashrawi, 74, has served on the Executive Committee of the PLO since 2009.
A few days before Ms Ashrawi's meeting with President Abbas, the Palestinian Authority announced its resumption of ties with Israel on financial and political issues after a six month suspension.
Security co-operation ended in May in protest over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's move to annex parts of the occupied West Bank.
It is unclear whether Ms Ashrawi's resignation is related to the reinstatement of co-operation with Israel.
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British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
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