Korei will not contest Palestinian elections

MIDDLE EAST: Palestinian prime minister Ahmed Korei has withdrawn from parliamentary elections on January 25th following the decision of the ruling Fatah movement to unify competing lists.

"I have sent a letter to the central committee of Fatah as well as to the president of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, saying I refused to present my candidature for the elections," he said. Mr Korei and Mr Abbas, both members of Fatah's ruling elite which has dominated Palestinian politics for nearly four decades, have been challenged by young activists.

The two wings of Fatah had put forward separate lists of candidates, seriously weakening the drawing power of the movement. Fatah faces a strong rival in Hamas, a group which polls indicate could win 40 per cent of the seats in the new 134 member legislative council.

However, last Friday Fatah decided to combine lists. According to an agreement reached with young guard leader Marwan Barghouti, there will be two sets of candidates. The national set based on proportional representation will not include ministers, current members of the council or Fatah's executive or central committees.

This set will be made up of young rank-and-file activists who have been relegated to the margins by the old guard but did well in the Fatah primaries. The second set of candidates would run in their district constituencies.

Mr Korei's decision is seen as admitting that he might not be elected if he chose to run. He is deeply unpopular with a majority of Palestinians.