May 24, 2002	Friday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 11,1423

RAMALLAH, May 23: Palestinian President Yasser Arafat said in an interview on Thursday he would hold presidential and legislative elections for the Palestinian Authority by early next year.

“In the winter there will be elections for the open (legislative) council and the presidential election as well,” Arafat said, adding that regional and municipal voting would be conducted towards the end of the year.

Asked whether the election date was conditional on an Israeli military withdrawal, Arafat said: “It’s not conditional”. But he added, “I hope there will be a withdrawal so we can have our election freely in Palestine”.—Reuters