Gaza strongman Mohammed Dahlan, once seen as a possible successor to Yasser Arafat, said Tuesday he will not run in the Jan. 9 elections and instead endorsed the interim Palestinian leader, Mahmoud Abbas. Dahlan, former chief of a powerful security service, still commands a strong following in the combustible Gaza Strip. His support could boost Abbas’ chances of maintaining order in what might be a turbulent transition period. Arafat’s death last week opened the door to real competition for the position of Palestinian leader for the first time in decades. Abbas is expected to receive the nomination from the ruling Fatah movement, but the low-key Abbas, a former prime minister, does not have a wide following. Full Story
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