A public opinion poll showed 65 percent of Palestinians will vote for Mahmoud Abbas, the mainstream Fatah movement's candidate for the upcoming Palestinian presidential elections on Jan. 9. (Xinhua Photo)

    GAZA, Jan. 3 (Xinhuanet) -- A public opinion poll showed 65 percent of Palestinians will vote for Mahmoud Abbas, the mainstream Fatah movement's candidate for the upcoming Palestinian presidential elections on Jan. 9.

    The poll, conducted by the Palestinian center for political surveys, showed that among the other six candidates, Mustafa al-Barghouti came as second with 22 percent of support, and the otherfive garnered an overall of 5 percent.

    Eight percent interviewees replied as undecided.

    The poll was conducted on Dec. 30-31 and covered a sample of 1,319 Palestinians in the West Bank, Gaza Strip and east Jerusalem.Abbas enjoyed the highest popularity in Gaza with a 70 percentbacking. Barghouti's popularity increased in the West Bank to 24percent and in Gaza to 19 percent.

    Abbas got 84 percent among Fatah supporters and 51 percent fromother political groups, including the Islamic resistance movementHamas and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

    The poll showed the Palestinians are equally divided on Abbas'demand for an end to armed resistance, with a 49 percent on eithercamp.

    The poll also showed 50 percent consider Abbas will be able toimpose the rule of law, while 42 percent believe he can protectrefugees' right of return.

    However, Hamas senior leaders reiterated they will boycott theelections and called on members to commit to the decision. Enditem