Abbas wins Palestinian Presidential election

Mahmoud Abbas has achieved a landslide victory in the Palestinian Presidential elections.

Mr Abbas, the moderate leader of the Fatah political faction, will be the successor to Yasser Arafat who died last year.

Mr, Abbas, who was the former Prime Minister in Palestine before he resigned, reportedly over Mr Arafat's unwillingness to transfer power, was named PLO chief, when the PLO leader died in Paris last November.

Yasser Arafat had fallen seriously ill at the end of October 2004 and was flown to Paris for treatment for an illness related to "low blood platelet count". The 75-year-old slipped into a coma on November 3 and died on November 11 from a brain haemorrhage.

Militant group, Hamas, alleged that Mr Arafat had been poisoned by Israeli agents, although these claims were rejected by Palestinian officials.

Mr Abbas won the election with 62.3% of the vote. His main rival, Mustafa Barghouti, achieved 19.8%.

Israeli PM, Ariel Sharon, has welcomed the result, but has warned the new Palestinian president that he will be assessed on the way he battles terrorism and dismantled its infrastructure.

Mr Abbas has stated that he is willing to talk peace with Israel and has also called for an end to the Palestinian armed uprising.

Liberal Democrats Shadow Foreign Secretary, Sir Menzies Campbell, said that the result offered "a golden chance" to create progress in the Middle East peace process.

Commenting on the election result, Sir Menzies said: "History will not look kindly on those who do not do everything in their power to achieve a long lasting settlement."

(KMcA/SP)