RAMALLAH, Dec. 14 (Xinhuanet) -- A senior official in charge of Mahmoud Abbas' election campaign said Tuesday that the campaign would focus on ending the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories.

    Tayeb Abdel Rahim told reporters that the campaign of Abbas, themainstream Fatah movement's presidential candidate, covered 12 major issues, such as ending the occupation and promoting the peaceprocess.

    Issues like refugees' right to return, release of Palestinian prisoners and an independent Palestinian state on the 1967 borders would also be addressed, the official said.

    He added that granting Palestinian women their due rights and reforming the Palestinian society would also be touched on.

    Seven Palestinian candidates, including Abbas, or better known as Abu Mazen, would run in the upcoming Palestinian National Authority (PNA) presidential elections slated for Jan. 9, 2005.

    The elections would choose a formal successor to late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who died at a French hospital on Nov. 11.

    The election campaign of the candidates would last from Dec. 25 to Jan. 7. Enditem