Palestinian general elections could be held by October if Israel withdraws from West Bank towns within six weeks, the Palestinian foreign minister said Friday, adding that Yasser Arafat will be the ruling Fatah party's candidate for president.
However, Palestinian legislator Hanan Ashrawi said she believed the timetable was unrealistic, saying it would take at least six months to organize voting after Israeli troops have left Palestinian population centers. There aren't "any candidates with any chances of success who could run against the president," Ashrawi said, according to the AP.
Ahead of the voting, the Palestinian parliament would have to adopt an elections law. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
