Well-informed Palestinian sources said on December 18 that Israeli and Palestinian officials would convene in a few days to coordinate efforts for the upcoming Palestinian elections.

The sources said chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat, prime minister's chief of staff Hassam Abu Lebda and Finance Minister Sallam Fayadd would meet Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's office chief Dove Weizglass.

However, the date and venue of the meeting hadn't been set, the sources said.

A previous meeting held between the two sides agreed in principle that the elections would be held in the same form and method as those in 1996.

It was also agreed that Palestinians of east Jerusalem would be allowed to vote at post offices in the city.

During the meeting, the two sides agreed to set up a joint committee of coordination, with Weizglass as chief on the Israeli side and Sallam Fayadd as chief on the Palestinian side, to observe activities of the joint committee on coordinating security issues.

Israel earlier announced it would pull out troops from the Palestinian cities for 72 hours before and during the elections.

The Palestinian National Authority presidential elections were due to be held on Jan. 9, 2005 to choose a formal successor to late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who died at a French hospital on Nov. 11.

Source: Xinhua