GAZA, Aug. 20 (Xinhuanet) -- Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas announced Saturday that Palestinian legislative council (parliament) elections will be held on Jan. 25, 2006.

    Abbas made the announcement at a conference of the model parliament of Palestinian high school students in Gaza City.

    Abbas said that the legislative elections, which was originally scheduled on July 17 but postponed indefinitely over disagreement on new election law, is an important for the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.

    "This parliament of youth had already achieved a national unity among them, but unfortunately, adults of the Palestinian factions had failed so far to achieve it," said Abbas.

    He reiterated at the meeting that 97 percent of land in the evacuated settlements belong to the Palestinian government properties and should serve the highest interests of the Palestinian people.

    Abbas also told the young parliamentarians that one of the challenges facing the Palestinians now is economic reconstruction. The Gaza withdrawal would be followed by Israeli army pullback to the positions before the eruption of the Palestinian uprising on September 28, 2000, said Abbas.

    He also urged Israel to stop the construction of the separation wall and settlements expansion in the West Bank.

    "These issues are certainly harming the peace, and anyone who continues with it of course doesn't want peace," said Abbas. Enditem