Palestine Liberation Organization chief Mahmoud Abbas announced on Saturday the beginning of his campaign for the presidential election due on Jan. 9.

"We want peace and stability and security for our people," said Abbas while addressing his supporters in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

"We want people to feel safe in their homes and when moving from one place to another," said the Fatah candidate.

Abbas began his presidential campaign with a one-minute silence for late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

He is considered to be the most favorite candidate to win the election after his chief rival jailed Intifada (Uprising) leader Marwan Barghouti quit the race and turned to support Abbas.

In the speech, Abbas called for the release of Barghouti as he warned Israel that peace would only be possible when the prisoners issue is resolved.

"If Israel wants peace, then the prisoner issue must be settled," Abbas told the rally.

Some 8,000 Palestinian prisoners are currently held in Israeli prisons.

Meanwhile, Abbas called on Israel to pull out of all occupied Palestinian lands, referring to Israel's occupation of the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem during the 1967 Mideast war.Among those who came to support Abbas was Fadwa Barghouti, wifeof Marwan Barghouti.

"From this podium, I convey my greeting as well as the greeting of my husband who is in jail to Fatah leader Abbas," she said.Palestinian observers said that Abbas is backed by Arafat's supporters.

Posters showing Abbas and Arafat together are stuck on walls in main streets towns and cities in the West Bank and Gaza.A total of seven candidates are vying for the post of Palestinian National Authority chairman.