Abbas: Election going ahead

2006-01-09 22:18

Gaza City - Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas said on Monday that elections would take place as planned on January 25 after he received US assurances that Israel would allow voting to take place in east Jerusalem.

Israel initially threatened to ban Palestinian voting in Jerusalem, but on Monday agreed to allow campaigning in the city claimed by both sides as a capital, a move seen as a first step to allowing voting in the city.

Abbas said he spoke to US secretary of state Condoleezza Rice on Sunday and was given a message from US President George W Bush on Monday giving him assurances that Israel would allow the vote in Jerusalem to go ahead.

"The elections will proceed and God willing take place on time," Abbas told reporters in Gaza City.

Abbas' announcement came after Israel agreed on Monday to let Palestinian politicians campaign in disputed Jerusalem, reversing an initial ban.

Palestinian security officials had warned that they he will not be able to secure polling stations on voting day, citing fears that gunmen will try to disrupt the elections.

There is widespread concern that gunmen from Abbas's Fatah Party will storm polling stations, particularly in unruly Gaza, as they did during party primaries last month.

During his live address on Palestine TV, Abbas called on gunmen to stay away from polling stations.

He said he spoke to regional governors in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and informed them "that they must protect this democratic day, even with force".

- AP