The Palestinian election for the chairmanship of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) is due to be held on Jan. 9 to choose a successor to late leader Yasser Arafat.

Mahmoud Abbas, chief of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Executive Committee, is the leading contender for the upcoming election.

The following is key facts on the Palestinian political system.

The Palestinian National Authority (PNA)

Established in 1994 in accordance with the 1993 Oslo accords signed between the PLO and Israel, the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) is a semi-autonomous state institution, governing the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.

The PNA has control over both security and civilian issues in the Palestinian urban areas, called in the Oslo accords "Area A", and over only civilian issues in the Palestinian rural areas, called "Area B".

The Oslo accords did not explicitly deal with the future of the PNA, but there is an unwritten understanding between the Palestinian and Israeli sides that it will become the basis of the governing body of a future independent Palestinian state.

The PNA has enjoyed an international recognition as it has an observer status in the United Nations and receives considerable aid from the European Union, the United States and Israel.

The PNA maintains an armed security force of around 40,000 to 80,000 personnel. Officially termed as the "police force", it actually stands between a militia and an army.

Previously, there was no post of prime minister in the PNA and Arafat, as the PNA's head, also chaired the PNA's cabinet.

In 2003, under mounting international pressures, Arafat appointed Mahmoud Abbas, better known to many as Abu Mazen, prime minister of the PNA.

However, Abbas resigned after staying on the post for only 100 days due to disputes with Arafat over security and administrative issues.

Later, Arafat nominated Ahmed Qurei as the prime minister of the PNA.

There has been only one election for the PNA's chairmanship since its establishment in 1994. The Sunday election will mark the second of its kind ever in the Palestinian territories.

The first election took place in 1996, which chose Yasser Arafatas the PNA's chairman.

Following Arafat's death on Nov. 11, 2004, the PNA announced its decision to hold the election for its chairmanship on Jan. 9, 2005.In addition, legislative elections are scheduled for May 17, 2005.

The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)

The PNA has historically been associated with the PLO as its late chairman Arafat was also head of the PLO and members of the PLO have manned almost all the posts in the PNA.

The PLO is the sole and legitimate representative of the Palestinian people. Founded in May 1964 in Jerusalem, the PLO has played so far a leading and important role in fighting for an independent Palestinian state.

As an umbrella bloc, the PLO groups eight Palestinian organizations including the mainstream Fatah movement, as-Saiqa, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), the Palestine Liberation Front (PLF), the Arab Liberation Front (ALF), the Popular Struggle Front (PSF) and the Palestine Democratic Union (PDU).

The Fatah movement, founded by the veteran Palestinian leader Arafat, is the largest and most powerful organization in the bloc and has played the leading role.

The PLO is made up of three bodies- the Executive Committee, which exercises central control; the Central Committee, which acts as the counselor and supervisor of the PLO's decision making and implementation, and the Palestine National Council, which stands as the Palestinian parliament.