Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announced on Tuesday that the parliamentary elections in the West Bank and Gaza Strip will be held in January 2006.

In a speech he addressed before the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) in Gaza, Abbas said that he announced the elections after the implementation of the basic Palestinian law and the elections law that were passed by the PLC.

Abbas said that he would issue a presidential decree soon after the two laws, the basic law and the elections law, are ready and a specific date for holding the January elections would be set up.

Abbas made a speech before the PLC few days before Israel implements its unilateral disengagement plan with the Palestinians due in mid August.

Abbas explained before the PLC members in a special session held in both Gaza and West Bank via the video conference system that he and the Palestinians are afraid that Gaza would be first and last Israeli withdrawal and would be isolated from the West Bank.

The withdrawal and evacuation of settlements would begin on Aug. 15 and will be implemented within four weeks, said Abbas, adding that there are lots of answers related to the borders, terminals and airport we have not received yet.

Source: Xinhua