Abbas bows out, announces retirement

• Source: Global Times
• [15:12 November 06 2009]
• Comments

Palestinian National Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas announced his retirement in the West Bank city of Ramallah on November 5. He doesn't want to run for re-election in January 2010.

"I hope they will understand my position," he said in a televised speech; he has informed the Central Committee of his Fatah movement and the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) about his intention after he reviewed a disappointing situation due to the suspension of peace talks with Israel and the failure to end the internal Palestinian crisis.

Abbas, 74, was elected president in January 2005 after the death of Yasser Arafat.