RAMALLAH, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Elections for the two highest leadership bodies of the Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Fatah) began on Saturday.
The elections for Fatah's Central Committee and the Revolutionary Council are taking place on the third day of Fatah's eighth general conference, which is being held in the West Bank, Gaza, Cairo, and Beirut.
In press statements, Sabri Saidam, head of the conference's media committee, said voting began at 10:00 a.m. local time (0700 GMT) and will continue until 4:00 p.m. local time, simultaneously in the four locations.
The vote counting process will begin immediately after the polls close, starting with Central Committee ballots. Preliminary results will be announced later, followed by a session to address any appeals or problems that may arise, Saidam said, adding that the official results will be announced Sunday.
Palestinian President and Fatah's leader Mahmoud Abbas, who has cast his vote in Ramallah, said holding the elections shows "our firm commitment to strengthening the democratic process," according to Palestinian official news agency WAFA.
On Thursday, the first day of Fatah's eighth general conference, Abbas was re-elected as the movement's leader.
Fatah, founded under the leadership of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in 1959, is the largest faction within the Palestine Liberation Organization and has been the dominant force in the Palestinian Authority. ■
