Palestinian elections, Marwan Barghouti among the candidates running

Ramallah (AsiaNews) – Marwan Barghouti has filed the necessary papers to run in Palestine's presidential elections scheduled for January 9. The leader of Tanzim, Fatah's armed wing, made the announced from the Israeli jail where he is purging five life sentences for terrorism. In a pres conference held in Ramallah yesterday, his wife Fadwa confirmed that he is running as an independent.

Barghouti's decision comes a few days after he withdrew his candidacy and threw his support behind Fatah's candidate Abu Mazen.

Fadwa Barghouti said that her husband is running because of the "current situation in the territories." He "decided to plunge into this democratic battle, faithful to the path of the intifada and resistance, to protect it and defend it from being portrayed as terrorism, and faithful to the eternal president, the leader, the symbol, Abu Ammar". Abu Ammar is Yasser Arafat's nom de guerre.

"His candidacy", she added, "is democratic and in accordance with exiting laws and regulations" and is meant to "honour all the martyrs and hostages of the Palestinian cause".

Palestinian sources say that Barghouti's bid stems from his failure to get Fatah's presidential nomination. Others suggest that he was not given a top post in Fatah as he was promised.

In submitting, Barghouti said that he hoped that the "elections would be democratic and respectful of the liberty and peace of the Palestinian people".

In the meantime, Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said that "Israel would not interfere with convicted terrorist leader Marwan Barghouti's choice to run for Palestinian Authority president, but he would not be freed from prison."

In a survey last September by the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, 22 per cent of respondent chose Barghouti as an important national figure compared to 2 per cent for Abu Mazen. In light of this, he could be a major obstacle on Fatah's candidate path to victory. Mr Barghouti is especially popular among young Palestinians.

Presidential elections were called after Palestinian President Yasser Arafat passed away on November 11. For some years, Israel saw Mr Arafat as the main obstacle for peace in the Middle East.

Ten candidates, including seven independents, are running for the presidency of the Palestinian National Authority. Fatah, the largest party, chose Abu Mazen as its official candidate.

After Arafat's death, Mr Mazen (nom de guerre of Mahmoud Abbas) was elected chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO).

The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the PLO's most radical party, did not name its candidate. Hamas, on the other hand, has decided to boycott the elections. (ZE)

• palestine
• israel
• intifada
• islam
• fundamentalism
• muslims
• terrorism
• jews
• arafat
• abu
• mazen
• marwan
• barghouti