Palestinians to hold elections by January 10

Palestinian officials said today they would hold elections for a new leader to replace Yasser Arafat by January 10.

Arafat died on Thursday and parliament speaker Rauhi Fattouh was sworn in as his temporary replacement.

Under Palestinian law, elections must be held within 60 days to choose a new leader.

Some Palestinian officials had toyed with amending the law to allow parliament to choose the new leader, but Palestinian leaders said today they were committed to holding the vote.

“Elections will come within two months. Before January 10 there will be Palestinian elections,” said Yasser Abed Rabbo, a senior Palestinian official.

Palestinian leaders also called today for the resumption of peace efforts, saying Arafat’s death had created a unique opportunity to end the violence and begin plans for an independent Palestinian state.

Hours after Arafat’s burial on Friday, US President George Bush pledged support for new peace negotiations.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia said today that they must follow through.

“I’m saying to the American administration, to President Bush, to the Israelis and to the whole world, ’Now is the period where we should be more serious’,” he said. “If we are determined to do it we can do it in a very short time.”