Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said Sunday he has no intention of running again after his current term as chairman of the PA expires in 2008, also predicting sweeping changes from this month's parliamentary election.
"meet the new boss, same as the old boss"
Speaking to reporters in Ramallah, Abbas said the new Palestinian parliament to be elected on January 25 will offer a "new type" of democracy, welcoming the participation of other factions in the race. His ruling party Fatah has controlled the Palestinian Authority since the first parliamentary election in 1996.
Abbas was elected a year ago to replace Yasser Arafat, who died on November 11. "The presidency is four years, and it is possible (legally) to go for another term," Abbas told reporters. "But from now, I say, this ... will not happen."
Abbas, 70, said the next election should be for a vice president as well as a president, but that would require parliamentary action. Or a plurality of automatic weapons
On concerns that the parliamentary elections may be marred with violence, Abbas repeated that he ordered his security forces to prevent anyone with a gun from getting close to the polling stations. Other than normal "poll workers"