Palestinian mainstream Fatah movement corporations are scheduled to convene for several days inthe West Bank from Sunday to discuss the Palestinian elections lawand the coming presidential elections, sources said on Wednesday.

Hani el Hassan, a member of the movement's central council, told reporters that during the meetings, Fatah members would internally vote and choose its candidate that would run for presidential elections on Jan. 9, 2005.

Meanwhile, Sakher Habash, another member of Fatah central committee said it is important to isolate between the authorities of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) chairman and the presidency of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA).Habash's statement came in response to reports saying that PLO chairman Mahmoud Abbas, better known as Abu Mazen, intends to runfor presidency as Fatah's candidate.

He said there is possibility that Marwan al Barghouti, who isjailed in an Israeli prison would be chosen by Fatah to run for presidency.

"The position of PLO chairman is more important than that of the president of the PNA. We prefer Abu Mazen to do the job of thechairman of the PLO," said Habash.

Source: Xinhua