GAZA, Nov. 20 (Xinhuanet) -- Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath said on Saturday that the Palestinian Legislative Council elections would be held maximum by next June.

    Following a weekly meeting of the Palestinian National Authority(PNA) cabinet in Ramallah, which was chaired by Prime MinisterAhmed Qurei, Shaath told reporters that the first stage of the municipal or local elections would be held on Dec. 23.

    He said that the first stage would include 35 popular locationsin the West Bank and Gaza Strip, adding that the presidential elections would be held as it was agreed on Jan. 9, 2005.Shaath said that after the presidential elections are held on time, it would be decided when the legislative elections would beheld, adding that it would be held maximum before June.He called upon the PLC to hurry up in approving the amended lawfor legislative elections. Enditem