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Palestinians eager for democracy: EU observer
2/1/2005 6:49

Michel Rocard, chief of the European Union's observation delegation, said Saturday that the Palestinians are eager for democracy.

Rocard told reporters that there is a high rate of voter registration ahead of the Jan. 9 presidential election. He said that the turnout of voter registration is higher than in many European countries such as France, Germany and Belgium. Rocard, former French prime minister, is leading a delegation of more than 260 European observers who will monitor the election in the Palestinian territories and east Jerusalem.

They will be joined by Arab, US and Japanese observers. The Palestinian presidential election had been decided after the death of Yasser Arafat on Nov. 11.

Seven candidates are running for the post. According to recent public opinion polls, PLO chief Mahmoud Abbas leads by large margin.



 Xinhua