MIDDLE EAST: The imprisoned military commander Marwan Barghouti dropped out of the Palestinian presidential race yesterday. It was less than a fortnight after he threw the campaign into turmoil by breaking with the Fatah movement and becoming an independent candidate.
In an open letter from the Israeli jail where he is serving five life terms, Barghouti was implicitly critical of the Fatah leadership for apparently abandoning armed resistance, but indicated he would pull out of the race.
In the letter Barghouti threw his support behind the leader of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation and official Fatah candidate, Mahmoud Abbas, who is once again the clear favourite to win the January 9th election.
Some opinion polls had indicated a tight race between Barghouti and Mr Abbas, who is trying to curb violence in favour of a political path that he believes will win back international support and force Israel to return to negotiations.
Barghouti said his candidacy was a message of defiance to his Israeli jailers. But he called on Mr Abbas and the new Palestinian leadership to maintain armed resistance, to demand a halt to construction of Jewish settlements and the Israeli "security" barrier, and for no deal with Israel that does not have the approval of the Palestinians.
Barghouti had come under pressure from allies within Fatah not to split the movement. Friends said he entered the race because he feared that Mr Abbas was too willing to compromise and might abandon core demands made by Yasser Arafat over east Jerusalem, a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders, and the right of refugees to return.
Mrs Barghouti was also concerned that Mr Abbas and the Prime Minister, Mr Ahmed Korei, were colluding with Israel to leave her husband in jail.
Hours earlier Palestinian guerrillas killed at least four Israeli soldiers after tunnelling under a military post near the border crossing point at Rafah and detonating more than a tonne of explosives. The attacks will be a blow to the Palestinian leadership's attempts to draw militant groups into a ceasefire, and are likely to prompt a hard Israeli response.
Hamas and a group calling itself the Fatah Hawks claimed responsibility, saying it was in revenge for Mr Arafat's "assassination". After the blast, Palestinian gunmen opened fire on troops attempting to rescue their colleagues. About 10 soldiers were injured and one was reported missing in addition to those killed. At least one Palestinian fighter was killed.
Shortly before the attacks, the Israeli cabinet had agreed in principal to release up to 200 Palestinian prisoners as a goodwill gesture to the new leadership. It is not clear if the government will now change its mind.
Earlier yesterday, five Palestinian children were wounded by Israeli tank fire in to Khan Yunis refugee camp.