Barghouti 'to run for Palestinian leadership'

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.

The candidacy of Barghouti, who supports violence, but says he wants peace with Israel, could shake up the calcified world of Palestinians politics. By law, elections are to be held by January 9, or within 60 days of Arafat’s death on Thursday.