Palestinian presidential elections to replace the late leader Yasser Arafat have begun in more than 1,000 polling stations in the West Bank and Gaza.

1.8 million Palestinians are eligible to vote, plus about 150,000 of the refugees living in Lebanon, Syria and elsewhere. Among them, 1.1 million have already registered.

About 800 international election observers are there to guarantee a transparent and fair election, including the former US President Jimmy Carter and former French Prime Minister Michel Rocard.

Two polling companies are conducting exit polls and their results will be announced Sunday evening. The final result of the election is expected overnight Sunday to Monday.

Current PLO chief Mahmoud Abbas is easily the front-runner in the race. There are six other candidates, the strongest of which is an independent candidate, Mustafa Barghouti, an academic and democracy activist.

In a recent public poll, Abbas won 66 percent of the vote, while Barghouti came in a distant second with 22 percent.

(CRI January 9, 2005)