Fatah elects new leaders in historic vote

Polling officials say the Palestinian Fatah movement has elected a slate of younger leaders to its highest body at its first conference in 20 years.

The results of the vote will show whether Fatah — the West's best hope for eventually delivering a peace deal with Israel — has succeeded in reinvigorating the movement by bringing in new faces

Early results show that at least 13 of the 18 elected members of Fatah's Central Committee are from the movement's younger generation. Four other members will be appointed by the Palestinian president, also a Central Committee member.

Palestinian politician Marwan Barghouthi, serving a life sentence in an Israeli jail, was elected to the executive body as well.

Barghouthi was jailed on charges of organizing the killing of Israelis. He denies the charges.

Abbas has said the party, holding its first congress in 20 years, needed to show disillusioned voters a new beginning.

Out of 10 "Old Guard" members seeking re-election, less than half succeeded.

The congress of the main Palestinian political movement began last Tuesday with about 2,000 delegates attending in the West Bank town of Bethlehem. Most of its proceedings have been held behind closed doors.