June 27, 2002	Thursday	Rabi-us-Sani 15, 1423

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JERICHO (West Bank) June 26: The Palestinian Authority, under pressure from U.S. President George W. Bush to dump Yasser Arafat as its leader, announced on Wednesday that presidential elections would be held next January.

Palestinian cabinet minister Saeb Erekat said Arafat had given the order for presidential and legislative balloting sometime between January 10 and 20 and also pledged an overhaul of security services, finances and courts within two to three months.

Erekat made the announcement at a news conference here in Jericho two days after Bush said Palestinians should elect new leaders “not compromised by terror”. Bush also said sweeping reforms were needed before a Palestinian state could be created.

“President Arafat officially declared today that the election of the president of the Palestinian Authority and the election of the Palestinian Legislative Council will be held in January 2003,” Erekat said. “The date will be between the 10th and the 20th.”

ARAFAT: Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has “confirmed to me” he would run in new presidential elections slated for January, international cooperation minister Nabil Shaath told AFP on Wednesday.

“Of course President Yasser Arafat will present himself (in the election),” Shaath said in a telephone interview.

“Yes, the president has confirmed it to me,” he added when asked if Arafat himself told Shaath he would be a candidate in the election that has been announced for between January 10 and 20.—AFP