File picture dated 21 September 2004 shows Palestinian legislative council speaker Rawhi Fattuh during a meeting at the offices of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) in Damascus. Under the terms of the Palestinian mini-constitution, or basic law, parliament speaker Fattuh will immediately take over from Arafat for the interim 60 day period. The French army's top doctor Christian Estripeau announced that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat died 11 November 2004 at 0230 GM. (Xinhua/AFP Photo By LOUAI BESHARA)

Chairman of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) Rawhi Fattouh, Nov. 06, 2004.The Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) will hold an emergency session later on Thursday to swear in new president Rawhi Fattouh to replace late leader Yasser Arafat.(Xinhua Photo)

File photo of Rawhi Fattouh. (Xinhua file photo)

Rawhi Fattouh walks in his office in Ramallah, Nov. 08, 2004. (Xinhua photo)

Rawhi Fattouh shakes hand with French president Jacques Chirac, Nov. 09, 2004. (Xinhua photo)

    RAMALLAH, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- Rawhi Fatouh, the interim chairmanof the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), has instructed to start preparations for holding elections within 60 days, well-informed Palestinian sources said on Friday.

    The elections organizations were asked to immediately prepare for holding general and presidential elections in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in the period.

    It was the first move taken by Fatouh since he has been sworn inas the new chairman after the passing away of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

    Rami Hamdallah, secretary general of the elections committee, said that Fatouh had called him and told him to start immediately preparing for holding the elections on time according to what has been decided.

    Hamdallah said that the elections committee is ready to prepare for holding the elections after the committee makes sure that the preparations would be applicable in east Jerusalem. Enditem