Al-Aqsa Brigades endorses Abbas for Palestinian president
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GAZA CITY  - The radical Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades movement, an armed offshoot of the dominant Fatah faction, gave its endorsement to PLO chairman Mahmud Abbas in the contest for Palestinian Authority president.
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RAMALLAH, West Bank -- His right hand on the Koran, Mahmoud Abbas took the oath of office yesterday as Palestinian Authority president, then declared that "our hand is extended toward an Israeli partner for making peace."
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RAMALLAH, West Bank  - Mahmoud Abbas declared that  he had won a Palestinian presidential election on Sunday and  dedicated his victory to Yasser Arafat, the iconic leader he is  replacing.
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RAMALLAH, West Bank  - Mahmoud Abbas won election  as Palestinian president with more than 60 percent of the vote,  officials said Monday, strengthening his hand to end years of  bloodshed and resume peace talks with Israel.
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Interim Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, the front-runner in upcoming presidential elections, received a loud ovation from thousands of supporters at his first public rally Tuesday, generating some excitement for the low-key politician seeking to replace
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Fatah, the dominant Palestinian political faction, approved the former prime minister Thursday as its candidate to succeed Yasser Arafat in a presidential election set for Jan. 9.
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RAMALLAH, West Bank  - Victory by Mahmoud Abbas,  an advocate of non-violence, in Palestinian presidential  elections stirred hopes Monday he could pursue peacemaking  Israel said must start with a crackdown on militants.
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JENIN REFUGEE CAMP, West Bank -- A prominent West Bank gunman carried a smiling Mahmoud Abbas on his shoulders yesterday, endorsing the presidential candidate and prompting questions of whether Abbas is playing campaign politics or identifying with violent groups.
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Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas said in an Associated Press interview Saturday that he wants to protect militants from Israel, rejecting Israeli demands that he crack down on them. It was his latest campaign gesture to court gunmen seen by many Palestinians as resistance heroes and by Israel as terrorists.
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Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia told reporters in Ramallah late on Thursday that the Fatah Revolutionary Council will back Mahmoud Abbas as their candidate in the presidential election on January 9.
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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas authorized a review of all private organizations in the Palestinian areas on Friday, signaling he may shut down Hamas-affiliated groups to counter the Islamic movement after it took over the Gaza Strip.
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Britain's Foreign Secretary Jack Straw pledged full support for the Palestinian election to find a successor to Yasser Arafat after paying homage to the veteran leader at his graveside.
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President George W. Bush on Monday will offer new support for the Fatah-led government of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, marking a higher profile effort to resolve the Middle East conflict.
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President Bush on Monday promised to  assist newly elected Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas boost  security and the Palestinian economy, and invited him to the  White House after years of shunning Yasser Arafat as an  obstacle to peace.
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RAMALLAH, West Bank  - Middle East peace hopes  were boosted on Monday when Mahmoud Abbas was elected  Palestinian president and Israel's parliament backed Ariel  Sharon's new coalition to implement his planned Gaza pullout.
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RAFAH, Gaza Strip  - Thousands of Palestinians  including armed militants gave presidential election  frontrunner Mahmoud Abbas a hero's welcome on Saturday in a  Gaza refugee camp shattered by fighting with Israel.
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Mahmoud Abbas praised Yasir Arafat's legacy today in a speech marking the end of the 40-day mourning period for the former leader.