Palestinian leaders prepare for elections

A PLO reform committee has agreed mechanisms to hold Palestinian National Council elections which must now be approved, a Fatah official said Wednesday. The committee has concluded its three-day meeting in Amman and the Central Council will approve the committee's decisions if the PNC -- the parliament of the PLO -- cannot meet, Jamal Muhesin told Ma'an. The Central Council is an intermediary body between the PNC and the Executive Committee. Meanwhile, the Central Elections Commission is preparing to update the electoral register in Gaza, following Hamas' agreement to let it operate in the enclave. President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas chief Khalid Mashaal will announce a unity government on June 20, Muhesin said. The Fatah official said he did not anticipate any disagreements over the makeup of the administration as it would be formed of political independents. The interim government will have a six-month mandate to prepare for elections. The result of the elections must be accepted as it will represent the will of the Palestinian people. Muhesin said. The last Palestinian elections were held in 2006, and declared free and fair by international observers. The international community imposed sanctions on the Palestinian Authority after Hamas won the vote.