Thursday, November 5, 2009
Aides: Abbas says he won't run in January election
RAMALLAH, West Bank -- Aides say Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has told political allies he won't run in January elections.
They say he's going to deliver a speech later Thursday explaining that he is frustrated by the impasse in peacemaking with the Israelis.
The two aides spoke on condition of anonymity because Abbas has not officially announced his intentions.
Abbas has threatened in the past not to run, and it was not immediately clear whether he could be persuaded to change his mind.
The aides said Abbas received calls earlier Thursday from Israel's president and defense minister, the president of Egypt and the king of Jordan, all asking him to reconsider.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
