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Fatah replaces party leadership Fatah replaces party leadership
(about 3 hours later)
The Fatah faction of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has voted to overhaul its top executives in its first election in two decades, initial results show. The Fatah faction of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has voted to overhaul its top executives in its first election in two decades, partial results show.
At a congress in the West Bank city of Bethlehem, 15 new officials were voted onto its 18-member central committee. At a congress in Bethlehem in the West Bank, 15 new officials were voted into 18 contested central committee seats.
Among them was Marwan Barghouti, jailed for life in Israel for organising the killing of Israelis, charges he denies. Among them was Marwan Barghouti, a popular figure held in an Israeli jail, and Mohammed Dahlan, a divisive figure strongly disliked by Hamas supporters.
Election results for Fatah's other ruling body, the Revolutionary Council, are expected later on Tuesday. The party has been seeking to restore its image as corrupt and divided.
New faces In 2006 it lost elections to rival faction Hamas, which now controls Gaza.
Injecting new blood into the decision-making body has been seen as a key part of the reform process.
Younger members of the organisation have long complained it was dominated by an "old guard" of ageing politicians who were contemporaries of its founder, Yasser Arafat, who died in 2004.
Less than half of the 10 members of the so-called "old guard", who were seeking re-election, managed to hold onto their seats on the central committee, Reuters news agency reported.Less than half of the 10 members of the so-called "old guard", who were seeking re-election, managed to hold onto their seats on the central committee, Reuters news agency reported.
New faces
According to partial results from the poll, the Fatah veteran Ahmed Queria, who was the first Palestinian prime minister, lost his seat.
Election results for Fatah's other ruling body, the Revolutionary Council, are expected later on Tuesday.
Can Fatah reinvent itself Profile: Fatah movementCan Fatah reinvent itself Profile: Fatah movement
Correspondents say Fatah is struggling to dispel its image among Palestinians of being corrupt and divided, after a stunning election loss in 2006 to rival faction Hamas.
The congress on Saturday backed Mr Abbas as the party leader, a post which he has held since the death of Fatah's founder, Yasser Arafat, in 2004.The congress on Saturday backed Mr Abbas as the party leader, a post which he has held since the death of Fatah's founder, Yasser Arafat, in 2004.
The 2,000 delegates also backed changes to the party's charter, but retained the right to "resistance" by "all means".The 2,000 delegates also backed changes to the party's charter, but retained the right to "resistance" by "all means".
A commitment to "two states for two people" was added, specifying that a Palestinian state should be established on the basis of 1967 borders - meaning all of the West Bank and Gaza, delegates said.A commitment to "two states for two people" was added, specifying that a Palestinian state should be established on the basis of 1967 borders - meaning all of the West Bank and Gaza, delegates said.