Ramallah, Nov 5, SPA -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas does not wantto seek a second term in office, dpa quoted a senior Palestinian official as saying today. Abbas told the meeting of the Palestine Liberation Organization"sexecutive that he does not want to run in the upcoming presidentialand legislative elections, scheduled for January 24, said Yaser AbedRabbo, a member of the executive committee. Abbas has faced several setbacks in recent months, the mostserious being US backtracking on its call to Israel to haltsettlement construction in order to re-launch the peace processsuspended since December. Abed Rabbo said the PLO Executive Committee urged Abbas not topull out of the elections and insisted that the he remain itscandidate for president in January. "President Mahmoud Abbas is not only Fatah"s choice for president,he is also the PLO"s choice and the choice of the Palestinian peopleeverywhere," he said. Abbas is head of Fatah movement, the largest Palestinian politicalfaction. He is also PLO chairman. Abed Rabbo said Abbas was needed at this time to continue thepolitical process. He added that the PLO backs Abbas" decision not toresume negotiations before Israel halts all settlement construction. --SPA 19:25 LOCAL TIME 16:25 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/716137