Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) leader Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Jordan on Sunday in an attempt to seek international support for January's landmark elections.

Abbas is expected to meet with Jordan's King Abdullah II and Prime Minister Faisal Fayez on Monday and then leave for Syria.

Before his arrival in Amman, Abbas had separate talks with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and UN Middle East envoy Terje Roed-Larsen in Cairo.

Egyptian presidential spokesman Maged Abdel Fattah said Mubarakand Abbas discussed ways to preserve unity within Palestinian ranks, prevent violent internal dissension and ensure peaceful elections.

The meeting covered preparations for regional elections scheduled for Dec. 23 and the Jan. 9 elections to choose the president of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), and the legislative elections to be held in May 2005.

Meanwhile, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit and intelligence chief Omar Suleiman prepared to head for Israel on Wednesday, calling on Israel to implement the roadmap, improve living conditions in the occupied territories, allow election candidates to travel freely and let the inhabitants of east Jerusalem vote.

After meeting with Abbas, Roed-Larsen described the meeting as "a crucial one to contribute to the underpinning of the Palestinian Authority."

He said all parties should establish a stability pact based on economic, political, security and institutional reforms, and the political aspect means that Palestinian elections be carried through in a free manner.

The UN envoy called on Israel to facilitate elections by lifting travel restrictions on Palestinians and by allowing East Jerusalem residents to participate.

He added that the United Nations and the United States would also help monitor the elections.

Abbas also met with Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa inCairo on Sunday.

After finishing their talks, Abbas said security forces should be the only group in the occupied territories allowed to carry weapons. "We want a single authority, a single government and a single legitimate Palestinian armed force on the Palestinian scene".

In another development, Palestinian mainstream Fatah movement's armed wing announced on Sunday its commitment to the movement's decision in choosing Abbas as its candidate for the upcoming presidential elections.

Al Aqsa martyrs brigades said in a leaflet sent to reporters that it valued Fatah Revolutionary Council's decision to choose Abbas as a candidate.

It also welcomed the declaration of Fatah leader Marwan al Barghouti, who is being jailed in an Israeli prison, that he wouldstep aside and give the chance to Abbas to run.

Last Monday, Fatah Central Committee, with an overwhelming majority, chose Abbas as the movement's candidate to run for the next presidential election.

Palestinian national and Islamic factions on Sunday called for dialogue of all factions to reach agreement on a united strategy that will benefit the Palestinian people most.

In a joint statement issued after a multilateral meeting held on Sunday, the factions called for speeding up the preparation forthe presidential election and enacting the new election law.

Source: Xinhua