Ramallah, November 22
The ruling Fatah party has chosen former premier Mahmoud Abbas as its candidate to replace Yasser Arafat as head of the Palestinian Authority in January 9 elections, a Palestinian official said.
Mr Abbas, 69, Arafat’s longtime deputy as head of the Palestine Liberation Organisation, has already been named head of the PLO. If elected president of the Palestinian Authority, he would inherit two of Arafat’s main titles. Arafat died November 11.
Mr Abbas served as Arafat’s first prime minister in 2003. However, he resigned after just four months in power, frustrated with Israeli policy and Arafat’s refusal to grant him real power. — AP
