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Palestinians extend Abbas' term Palestinians extend Abbas's term
(20 minutes later)
The term of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has been indefinitely extended until new elections are held. The term of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has been indefinitely extended until new elections are held.
The decision was made at a meeting of the Palestine Liberation Organisation in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Parliament's mandate was extended too.The decision was made at a meeting of the Palestine Liberation Organisation in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Parliament's mandate was extended too.
The elections had been due in January, but they have been postponed because of differences between rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas. The elections were due in January but have been postponed over differences between rival factions Fatah and Hamas.
Mr Abbas has said he does not want to stand for re-election. Hamas, which is boycotting an election, says the extension is unconstitutional.
PLO officials say they are acting to prevent a political vacuum.
Officials are hoping that reconciliation talks between Mr Abbas's Fatah movement and Hamas will eventually result in elections in June, but little progress has been made.
Mr Abbas called elections for 24 January, 2010, but does not want to stand for re-election.
By then his position as president would already have been extended by a year, and the mandate of the Palestinian parliament, the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), would have run out.