RAMALLAH, Nov. 22 (Xinhuanet) -- The mainstream Fatah movement on Monday asked Rawhi Fattouh, the interim chairman of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), to set a date for holding the legislative election before mid-2005, the official WAFA news agency reported.

   The Fatah issued a statement, calling on Fattouh to prepare fora presidential decree to set a date for the legislative election before the middle of next year.

    During a meeting of the Fatah Central Committee Monday night, it  chose Mahmoud Abbas, chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization, to be the movement's candidate to run for the upcoming presidential election.

    "These elections will pave the way for developing democracy that would lead us to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital," the statement said.

   "The elections will be a real democratic process that gives thePalestinians, especially women, a bigger role in the process," itsaid.

    The presidential election will be held on Jan. 9, 2005 to choosea successor to Yasser Arafat, who died at a French hospital on Nov.11.  Enditem