Abbas takes pole position

2004-11-27 20:51

Ramallah, West Bank - New PLO chief Mahmud Abbas emerged on Saturday as the clear frontrunner to replace Yasser Arafat after jailed West Bank Fatah leader Marwan Barghuti vowed not to run in January's presidential election.

Barghuti's decision, taken in his Israeli prison cell and announced late on Friday, headed off a potentially destructive rift in the Palestinian dominant Fatah movement, leaving Abbas as the top candidate in the poll due in six weeks.

"Members and supporters of Fatah (must) support the movement's candidate, the combatant, brother Mahmud Abbas," said the firebrand in a statement read by minister without portfolio Qaddura Fares.

Speculation had been rife that the charismatic Barghuti, serving five life sentences for murder, would formally announce his decision to stand - posing a direct challenge to Abbas.

"This (move) reflects the fact that Marwan Barghuti is a real and unique leader," said Ahmed Ghneim, a senior Fatah official in the West Bank.

Unity inside Fatah

"In taking his decision, he meant to maintain unity inside Fatah and among all Palestinians," he told AFP.

Although most Fatah officials were largely relieved to have avoided an open conflict, some were deflated.

"We are disappointed. We wanted Marwan to run... but we will stick to his decision and to the decisions of Fatah," said another senior Fatah official, Jamal Lafi.

Preparations for the January 9 elections continued on Saturday amid reports that a Palestinian delegation headed by national security advisor Jibril Rajoub was due in Britain next week for "private" talks with senior Israeli officials.

Although the talks were branded as unofficial, the two sides would discuss security arrangements for the forthcoming elections and Israel's plan to withdraw from the Gaza Strip, Britain's Daily Telegraph reported.

Among the Israeli representatives were Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's son, Omri, and deputy defence minister Zeev Boim. Among the Palestinians would be Fares and deputy cabinet member Sufian Abu Zaida, the paper said.

- AFP