Palestinian President Yasser Arafat told the press in an interview on Thursday he would hold presidential and legislative elections for the Palestinian Authority by early next year.
"In the winter there will be elections for the open (legislative) council and the presidential election as well," Arafat said, adding that regional and municipal voting would be conducted toward the end of the year.
Asked whether the election date was conditional on an Israeli military withdrawal, Arafat said: "It's not conditional." But he added: "I hope there will be a withdrawal so we can have our election freely in Palestine."
Last week, Arafat promised early elections in a speech to his people but later said the elections could not be held until the Israeli occupation ended, a comment aides said meant once the Israeli army withdrew from the edges of West Bank cities.
Israel and the United States have called for sweeping reforms and new elections in the Palestinian Authority.
(Xinhua News Agency May 24, 2002)
