A poll carried out by the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion (PCPO), and announced by Dr.Nabil Kukali, on Monday indicated that 39.8% of the Palestinians would vote during the Palestinian presidential elections for Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), followed by Marwan Barghouthi (21.9%).
The poll was conducted from 3rd to 5th of December 2004 and included a random sample of (977) Palestinian adults. Kukali, PCPO President, stated that "the most important issue the results of the poll revealed is that Mr. Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) has obtained the highest score of support as candidate of the PA presidency, followed by Marwan Barghouthi in the second position and Mustafa Bargouthi in the third".
The poll has revealed that (85.0%) of the Palestinian people are intending to participate in the voting scheduled on Jan. 9, 2005.
Meanwhile, the new head of Fatah told reporters on Monday that Barghouthi would be expelled of the Movement if he insists to run in the upcoming elections. "Any member who deliberately goes against decisions is considered to have resigned, and will be struck off, whatever his rank," Faruq Qaddumi said, according to the AFP.
