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Arafat 'To Stand in Elections'
Wednesday, July 17, 2002
(15:30 GMT) (16:30 UK)
The BBC

There had been talk of allowing Arafat a ceremonial role.
Image Credit: l'Agence France-Presse (AFP).

"The UN still recognises Chairman Arafat and will continue to deal with him until the Palestinians decide otherwise," said Mr Annan at a news conference after discussions with Mr Powell.

Location -- Source
Yasser Arafat says he will run in Palestinian presidential elections in January, rebuffing US calls for a change in leadership.

Asked if he planned to run during an interview with an Egyptian television network, Mr Arafat replied: "Of course, if I am tasked by the Palestinian command (because) I am proud of our democracy."

Although aides had previously said Mr Arafat intended to run, correspondents say this is the first time he had declared his intentions.

The comments are a rebuke to US President George W Bush, who recently called for the Palestinians to change their leadership in order
to prepare for peace.

Mr Arafat, speaking from the West Bank, said the Americans "must know that we are not Afghanistan, for them to change [leaders] as they wish."

And the embattled Palestinian leader said it was "imperative" that he stand for election.
(More: BBC Online News Source)
2002 © The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

Dan