RAMALLAH, West Bank, Nov 25 (AFP) - The Fatah Revolutionary Council Thursday approved the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat`s moderate number two Mahmud Abbas as the mainstream movement`s candidate to succeed him in January polls, an official said.
Abbas, who has already replaced Arafat as chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), was named by the Fatah central committee as the party`s candidate three days ago.
His nomination needed final approval from the group`s Revolutionary Council, which was given during a meeting late Thursday in the West Bank city of Ramallah.
Of the 99 Council members present, 97 voted for Abbas and two abstained, said Palestinian cabinet secretary Tayeb Abdelrahim.
Many of those who failed to attend from the 129-member strong body, were from the Gaza Strip and were unable to travel to the West Bank because of Israeli travel restrictions, he added.
It emerged earlier Thursday that jailed West Bank Fatah leader Marwan Barghuti also intends to run for in the January 9 presidential race.
Members of Fatah`s higher committee, which is still officially headed by Barghuti, said the 45-year-old firebrand had transmitted a message via his lawyer that he wanted to succeed Arafat.
With Abbas confirmed as Fatah`s candidate, Barghuti would probably have to run as an independent.
But it remains to be seen whether he is really prepared to divide Fatah. He insisted on the need for Palestinians to "retain our national unity" in a message issued immediately after Arafat`s death a fortnight ago.
11/25/2004 20:21 GMT - AFP