A leading Palestinian newspaper says Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia will resign next week.

The al-Hayam  newspaper Wednesday said Mr. Qureia will quit after returning from medical treatments in Paris. There has been no official confirmation of the report.

On Sunday, Palestinian lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to urge Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas to fire his cabinet for failing to stop factional fighting in the Gaza Strip. The lawmakers demanded that Mr. Abbas appoint a new prime minister within two weeks or else face a no-confidence vote.

The action came after a legislative committee presented a special report on the deteriorating Gaza security situation.

Hours earlier Sunday, a Palestinian police commander and two civilian bystanders were killed and at least 50 others wounded in gunbattles between Hamas militants and police.