PA spokesman Ghassan Khatib leaves post

Palestinian Authority spokesman Ghassan Khatib has decided to leave his position and return to teaching, the PA's official news agency Wafa reported Wednesday.

Khatib had taken a three-year leave of absence from Birzeit University to work as a spokesman and head of the PA government media center at the request of PA prime minister Salam Fayyad.

Three years is the maximum amount of leave a university employee can take, which is why Khatib is returning to his former position, a statement from the center said.

Salam Fayyad applauded Khatib for his service, saying he had undertaken his role professionally.

No replacement has been named.