Palestinian President Yasser Arafat told Reuters in an interview on Thursday he would hold presidential and legislative elections for the Palestinian Authority by early next year.
"In the winter there will be elections for the open (legislative) council and the presidential election as well," Arafat said, adding that regional and municipal voting would be conducted toward the end of the year.
Asked whether the election date was conditional on an Israeli military withdrawal, Arafat said: "It's not conditional." But he added: "I hope there will be a withdrawal so we can have our election freely in Palestine."
Arafat said he had informed envoys from the United States, European Union, Russia and United Nations, known as the "quartet" overseeing fresh international peace moves in the Middle East, about the decision to hold new elections.
Before these comments, it was reported that all members of the Palestinian Central Elections Committee have resigned because Arafat has not yet set a date for new elections, despite repeated promises, an official close to the panel said Thursday.
The head of the five-member committee, Mahmoud Abbas, met late Wednesday with the Palestinian leader to discuss prospects for elections.
A Palestinian official, who spoke to AP on condition of anonymity, said that after the meeting all members of the panel submitted their resignations to Arafat, who has been unwilling to commit to a date for elections. The report of the resignations could not immediately be confirmed with a second source. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
