Fatah said to run united in Palestinian elections

Egypt's Minister Omar Suleiman has managed at his meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian leadership in Ramallah to narrow the gap of disagreements inside Fatah Movement, Palestinian sources said yesterday.

These sources, according to Egyptian official reports, added that the Egyptian official managed to convince Fatah to run in the coming elections under one united list. Fatah is described currently as being split between so-called "old guard" accused of being corrupt and a new younger leadership that seeks reform and wants leadership that is responsive to the citizens.

Palestinian National Security Advisor Gibriel Al-Rajoub, said that the Palestinian President denied that minister Suleiman attempted to convince Hamas of agreement to delay the elections, adding that Suleiman encouraged the Palestinians to hold elections on time.

The report said "Presidential Spokesman Ambassador Suleiman Awwad said the visit of Minister Omar Suleiman to both Israel and the Palestinian territories aimed at containing current escalation and paving the way for extending the truce between the two sides, implementing Sharm EI-Sheikh understandings and maintaining the momentum which was generated by the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza."