Palestinian Liberation Organization chairman Mahmoud Abbas was declared the winner of the Palestinian presidential election Monday having taken almost two-thirds of votes cast.

Palestinian Central Elections Committee (CEC) said Abbas gained 62.32 percent of the vote to achieve an overwhelming victory in the election.

Israel hailed Abbas' landslide victory as a boost to peace hopes but wasted no time in reminding Yasser Arafat's successor of the daunting task ahead.

Media organizations quote a senior aide in Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's office as saying that Sharon is prepared to meet Abbas "as soon as possible."

Israeli Labor party leader Shimon Peres called Abbas to congratulate him on Monday. "Mr. Abbas will be an uncompromising partner, but he is a wise man, experienced and moderate... He was chosen by the vast majority of Palestinians and we should give him the chance to succeed," said Peres.

"A new process will begin. An important change has taken place and I hope that the new Palestinian leadership is a reflection of change in the Palestinian street."

Peres nevertheless cautioned that it remained to be seen "whether terrorist organizations would give him time to react."

US President George W. Bush said he was "heartened" by a strong turnout in Sunday's elections to choose the successor to late veteran Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and offered his congratulation to Abbas.

Bush said he would welcome Abbas to the White House. "I look forward to welcoming him in Washington if he chooses to come here," Bush told reporters.

Other world figures were quick to hail Abbas election once it was made official.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso welcomed Monday the outcome of Palestinian elections, saying they were "a very important step" towards the creation of a democratic Palestinian state.

"It is a very important step towards the creation of a viable and democratic Palestinian state," he said after the victory of moderate Abbas to succeed the late Yasser Arafat.

"All sides concerned must now work together to ensure peace in the region," he said, adding that it was "encouraging" that Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon were planning to meet in the near future.

The EU is one of the four sponsors of the troubled roadmap peace plan which targets the creation of an independent Palestinian state living alongside a secure Israel.

Another sponsor, Russia, also hailed Abbas' election. Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a message to Abbas congratulating him on his election, the Kremlin press service was quoted by Interfax as saying on Monday.

Putin said in his message "I am sure that your example of political experience will permit you to effectively perform the mission entrusted to you by the Palestinian people in the interests of the speedy implementation of its cherished dream of forming an independent state coexisting in peace and security with Israel."

Russia is ready for close cooperation with Palestine in further development of traditionally friendly bilateral relations, achievement of a just Palestinian-Israeli settlement and transformation of the Middle Eastern region into a zone of mutually beneficial cooperation and economic success, the message said.

Putin also invited Abbas to pay an official visit to Moscow.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is to host in London a conference on Palestinian reforms, also congratulated Abbas on his election.

"The elections were vigorously contested and well-organized and there was an impressive turnout," Blair said.

"Mr. Abbas faces considerable challenges in building the institutions needed to underpin a viable Palestinian state. We will support him as he does so, including by hosting the London meeting in early March."

Blair's spokesman told reporters that the prime minister expected to speak by telephone with Abbas on Monday evening.

French President Jacques Chirac congratulated Abbas for winning the presidential election, saying it gives rise to new hope for peace in the region.

"It is up to you now to put Palestine on the path to peace with Israel." Chirac said in a message.

German leaders on Monday sent congratulatory messages to Mahmoud Abbas. German President Horst Koehler said that the election of Abbas was a signal of hope and marked a "historical moment in the history of Palestinian people".

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said that Abbas won the Palestinian presidency at a moment when the Middle East peace process has a new chance.

"Together with its European partners, Germany will try its best to support you on your way to creating a independent, livable and democratic state within the framework of a comprehensive and justified peace solution," Schroeder said.

Congratulations also came from Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos and Italian Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini.

Iran said Monday that it would "respect" the election of Abbas as Palestinian leader, despite a polling day boycott by Islamist groups that are Tehran's traditional allies.

"We have always said that we respect what the majority of Palestinian people vote for and we respect all such results by the Palestinian majority," government spokesman Abdollah Ramezanzadeh told a weekly press briefing.

Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa on Monday welcomed Abbas' victory in Sunday's election, Egypt's official MENA news agency reported.

Moussa told reporters that the election proved that the Palestinians had institutions capable of running the democratic process.

He said the Arab League will continue to work hard to help Palestinians regain their rights in accordance with the pan-Arab organization policy of playing a constructive role in resolving pressing regional issues.

China's foreign ministry spokesman Kong Quan said: "We respect the choice of the Palestinian people and hope that the leader chosen in the election can lead the Palestinian people to their goal of realizing the establishment of their country at an early date."

A statement from the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the South Korean government hopes the new Palestinian leader will reactivate the Middle East peace talks and work toward establishing a Palestinian state.

"Our government assesses that a significant momentum for peace and stability in the Middle East has been created through this election," the statement said.

Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura on Monday welcomed the election of Abbas in a statement, saying the Japanese government expects Abbas to make further efforts with Israel to establish peace in the region.