Middle East - PLO

Abbas not to seek re-election

Article published on the 2009-11-05 Latest update 2009-11-05 16:29 TU

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
(Photo: Reuters/Fadi Arouri)

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas says he will not be a candidate in presidential and parliamentary elections in January 2010. The PLO's top body says it will still support him as the nominee in the polls, despite his decision. Abbas is said to be frustrated with the US position on the peace process.

The Palestinian president's frustration is said to have peaked after US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, praised the Israelis "unprecedented" concession on building settlements in the West Bank.

Israel has offered to temporarily limit construction in West Bank settlement to 3,000 additional housing units. For months Washington had been calling for a full settlement freeze before negotiations between the two sides could restart.

Senior Fatah official Nabil Shaath says that Abbas feels he has done everything required of him under the terms of the internationally-adopted 2003 road map for peace, but has received nothing in return.

Shaath stressed that the Fatah movement stood behind president Abbas running for another term.