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Quartet promises to underwrite PA election

RAMALLAH, West Bank, Nov. 23 (UPI) -- Expenses for next year's Palestinian Authority election will be partially underwritten by Europe, Russia, the United States and the United Nations.

As members of the so-called Quartet of Middle East peace mediators, they will also seek monies from other parties, including Israel, as Palestinians pick a new chairman Jan. 9, Ha'aretz reported Tuesday.

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The four nations also urged Israel to allow Palestinians more freedom of movement to hold elections for a successor to Yasser Arafat.

Ariel Sharon, Israel's prime minister, assured Colin Powell, the U.S. secretary of state, that Israel would coordinate both the upcoming Palestinian election and next summer's disengagement from Gaza with the Palestinian Authority.

He also warned, though, that "if the PA does not take steps against terror, it will be impossible to advance."

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