Marwan Barghouti, a Palestinian uprising leader jailed by Israel who is perhaps the strongest candidate to oust Yasser Arafat’s old guard of politicians, will run in presidential elections, a close aide said today.

MAHMOUD ABBAS, a former prime minister and a veteran peace negotiator, was elected chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisation yesterday within hours of Yasser Arafat’s death, putting him on a track to become the next overall leader of the Palestinians.

Top candidates to succeed Yasser Arafat as Palestinian leader: