GAZA, Nov. 15 (UPI) -- Palestinian Liberation Organization Chairman Mahmoud Abbas Monday denied reports he was named the Fatah candidate for the Jan. 9 presidential election.
Palestinian sources Sunday said Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, was chosen by the Fatah Central Committee to be its presidential candidate.
Abbas Monday called the announcement "premature" and told reporters "the question would be discussed by Fatah movement's revolutionary council."
Palestinian sources said the former prime minister and co-founder with Yasser Arafat of Fatah, wanted to wait and garner as much support as possible from the Fatah movement and its revolutionary council.
The sources said the announcement of Abbas as the Fatah candidate was supposed to have come in a "few days."
