PLO official says internal vote delayed for about 3 months
RAMALLAH - The Palestine Liberation Organization's parliament said Wednesday it was delaying internal leadership elections for at least three months, in an announcement that made the anticipated postponement official.
Salem Al-Zanoun, the speaker of parliament, told reporters that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has agreed to delay the Palestinian National Council meeting, originally set for next week, to give more time to prepare for the vote.
The PLO parliament has more than 700 members, including many in the Palestinian diaspora. A quorum of two-thirds is needed for a session and there was concern it could not be met.
Abbas had called for a meeting of the parliament to elect a new PLO leadership body. Critics have alleged Abbas wanted to use the hastily arranged session to sideline rivals and promote loyalists.
