Palestinian PM confirms he won't run in elections
(AP)
Updated: 2005-12-25 09:41

Thirteen senior Fatah veterans told Abbas they oppose the emerging deal with the young guard and threatened to form a rival parliamentary list, to be named after the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, officials said Saturday. Abbas brushed off the threat, telling them they should run in district elections, where he felt certain they could win, the officials added.

With Fatah in disarray, party officials have increasingly urged Abbas to delay the vote. Abbas has so far rejected such calls, fearing it would make the party look even weaker.

Qureia said he would continue with his duties as prime minister. Ministers running in parliamentary candidates had been required to resign their positions for the duration of the campaign.

While the deadline has passed for parties to submit their candidate lists, a Palestinian court is expected to issue a ruling in the next day or two that would reopen the registration process and clear the way for Fatah to unify its list of candidates.