GAZA, Nov. 15 (Xinhuanet£¬by Saud Abu Ramadan) -- Although the date for presidentialelections has been set for Jan. 9, the Palestinians still don't know whom to choose to succeed Yasser Arafat, who died on Thursdayin a French military hospital.

    After the announcement of the election date on Sunday, new Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) chief Mahmoud Abbas, or Abu Mazen, quickly denied reports that he has been chosen by the mainstream Fatah movement as its candidate for presidency.

    "I didn't candidate myself until now and it is still premature. The question would be discussed by the Fatah movement's revolutionary council," he told reporters.

    He said the Fatah central committee and its revolutionary council are the only two bodies that decide to choose anyone of the movement to be its candidate in the upcoming elections.

    Palestinian analysts said Abbas wants to earn as much support as possible, especially in the Fatah movement and its backbone revolutionary council before he officially declares his candidacy.

    After Arafat's death, Rawhi Fattouh, the new Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), was nominated, under the Palestinian Basic Law, as temporary president until presidential elections are held.

    The PLO executive committee, the presidency of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and Fatah's central committee decided on Sunday to hold the presidential elections on Jan. 9, 2005.

    However, two major opposition movements, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, have said they would boycott the presidential elections.

    Hamas spokesman Abu Zuhri said Monday that Hamas will not participate in the presidential election. "Hamas would only participate in municipal elections, and concerning the participation in parliamentary elections, a decision would be madeonly after Hamas' political leadership has discussions on the issue," he said.

    Also on Monday, following a meeting between Abbas and representatives of 13 political factions and powers, Jihad leaderssaid they are weighing the issue of participating in general elections.

    Khaled al Batsh, a senior Jihad leader, has told reporters thatthe movement won't participate in any elections until an independent Palestinian state is established in the West Bank and Gaza.

    However, al Batsh said later that the movement would only participate in municipal elections that would be held in the Palestinian territories.

    US Secretary of State Colin Powell and Israeli Foreign MinisterSilvan Shalom pledged in Washington on Monday to provide help to the Palestinian elections.

    "We are pleased that they (Palestinians) have set a date for anelection for the new president of the Palestinian Authority," Powell said at a joint press conference with Shalom.

    Powell said he hoped to be able to convene a Quartet -- the US,the United Nations, the European Union and Russia -- during his forthcoming visit to the Middle East to push the implementation ofthe "road map," which envisages a Palestinian state in 2005.

    Shalom said he had "a very good and constructive discussion" with Powell over the Middle East issues. On the Palestinian elections, Shalom said Israel expects to "enable the Palestinians to have a free and fair election."

    "Everything that is needed will be given to them in order to ensure that they will have the possibility to elect their new leadership. We would like to see this new leadership is moving toward better understanding with Israel, to move toward peace withIsrael," Shalom said. Enditem