Jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti has decided to quit the Palestinian presidential races lated for Jan. 9, his aide told a press conference here on Sunday.Ahmed Ghuneim said Barghouti had offered his blessings to Fatahchief Mahmoud Abbas.

"I call upon the Palestinian people to give their votes to Fatahsole candidate Mahmoud Abbas," Ghuneim read Barghouti's letter."Marwan Barghouti's decision would now allow all the eight candidates to start presenting their programs before the public,and of course he will be committed to Fatah movement'sregulations," said Ghuneim, who is a member of Fatah's highest committee.

Prior to the withdrawal, Barghouti put conditions before the Palestinian leadership, such as never to make concessions on Jerusalem, the refugees' right of return and the release of allPalestinian prisoners, Ghuneim told reporters.

Barghouti's wife Fadwa also attended the news conference.The 46-year-old Fatah leader was sentenced to prison for five life terms by an Israeli court after being convicted of plotting the murder of at least four Israelis and a Greek monk in June 2004.He decided on Dec. 1, the deadline for candidacy registration,to run in the presidential election, reversing an earlier decision to quit.

Source: Xinhua