President Mahmoud Abbas 'will not seek re-election'
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has announced that he will not seek re-election in polls in January.
In a televised speech, Mr Abbas said he had informed his Fatah movement and the Palestine Liberation Organization, and was not ready to debate the issue.
He also reiterated his belief that peace with Israel was "still possible".
Correspondents say Mr Abbas could stay in post for some time, however, as the election may be postponed because Hamas says it will not allow a vote in Gaza.
A spokesman for the Islamic group said the president's reluctance to run for re-election was "a message of reproach to his friends the Americans and the Israelis".
The White House meanwhile hailed Mr Abbas as an "important and historic leader for the Palestinian people and a true partner for the United States", but refused to discuss the implications for peace.
Speaking in Ramallah, Mr Abbas announced that he had no intention of standing in the presidential election scheduled for 24 January in the West Bank and Gaza.
"Sons of our great people! I have informed brothers in the PLO Executive Committee and the Fatah Central Committee that I do not wish to present my candidacy in the forthcoming presidential election," he said.
"This decision does not at all amount to bargaining or political manoeuvring. While I appreciate the views expressed by brothers, I hope they will understand my wish. It is worth noting that I shall take other steps when the time comes."
The 74-year-old leader said the impasse in efforts to resume peace negotiations with Israel had prompted his decision not to run again.
He also accused the US of backtracking on its Middle East policy and refusing to persuade Israel to freeze the construction of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank.
"We welcomed it, and were optimistic when President Barack Obama announced the need for a complete halt to settlements including natural growth," he said.
"We were surprised by his [later] support for the Israeli position."
"The problem that needs to be solved is that Israel and the current government rejected all of this."
Nevertheless, Mr Abbas said Washington still had a pivotal role to play in eventually achieving peace in the region, which he was confident would happen.
"The two-state solution with Israel and Palestine living side-by-side in peace and security is still possible," he added.
Its strategy is faltering, and without President Abbas it will come to a dead stop while would-be successors compete for power, he says.
Mr Abbas seems to have concluded that if the Obama administration cannot deliver on settlements it will not be able to persuade Israel to pay the price necessary for a real peace, he adds.
Mr Abbas took over as head of the PLO after Yasser Arafat died in 2004, and became Palestinian Authority president a year later.
But he has struggled to make headway towards a peace deal in negotiations with Israel, amid deadlock over the issue of Israeli settlements.
He has also faced rivalry from the Hamas movement, which won legislative elections in January 2006 and ousted Fatah from Gaza.
In recent months Egypt has tried to broker a unity deal between Hamas and Fatah but its efforts have been unsuccessful so far.
Mr Abbas had said he would call elections even if no unity deal was reached.
The four-year term of the Palestinian Legislative Council, or parliament, is due to expire in January 2010, at which time fresh elections must be held, according to the Palestinian constitution.
Mr Abbas' presidential term expired earlier this year.
In a televised speech, Mr Abbas said he had informed his Fatah movement and the Palestine Liberation Organization, and was not ready to debate the issue.
He also reiterated his belief that peace with Israel was "still possible".
Correspondents say Mr Abbas could stay in post for some time, however, as the election may be postponed because Hamas says it will not allow a vote in Gaza.
A spokesman for the Islamic group said the president's reluctance to run for re-election was "a message of reproach to his friends the Americans and the Israelis".
The White House meanwhile hailed Mr Abbas as an "important and historic leader for the Palestinian people and a true partner for the United States", but refused to discuss the implications for peace.
Speaking in Ramallah, Mr Abbas announced that he had no intention of standing in the presidential election scheduled for 24 January in the West Bank and Gaza.
"Sons of our great people! I have informed brothers in the PLO Executive Committee and the Fatah Central Committee that I do not wish to present my candidacy in the forthcoming presidential election," he said.
"This decision does not at all amount to bargaining or political manoeuvring. While I appreciate the views expressed by brothers, I hope they will understand my wish. It is worth noting that I shall take other steps when the time comes."
The 74-year-old leader said the impasse in efforts to resume peace negotiations with Israel had prompted his decision not to run again.
He also accused the US of backtracking on its Middle East policy and refusing to persuade Israel to freeze the construction of Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank.
"We welcomed it, and were optimistic when President Barack Obama announced the need for a complete halt to settlements including natural growth," he said.
"We were surprised by his [later] support for the Israeli position."
"The problem that needs to be solved is that Israel and the current government rejected all of this."
Nevertheless, Mr Abbas said Washington still had a pivotal role to play in eventually achieving peace in the region, which he was confident would happen.
"The two-state solution with Israel and Palestine living side-by-side in peace and security is still possible," he added.
Its strategy is faltering, and without President Abbas it will come to a dead stop while would-be successors compete for power, he says.
Mr Abbas seems to have concluded that if the Obama administration cannot deliver on settlements it will not be able to persuade Israel to pay the price necessary for a real peace, he adds.
Mr Abbas took over as head of the PLO after Yasser Arafat died in 2004, and became Palestinian Authority president a year later.
But he has struggled to make headway towards a peace deal in negotiations with Israel, amid deadlock over the issue of Israeli settlements.
He has also faced rivalry from the Hamas movement, which won legislative elections in January 2006 and ousted Fatah from Gaza.
In recent months Egypt has tried to broker a unity deal between Hamas and Fatah but its efforts have been unsuccessful so far.
Mr Abbas had said he would call elections even if no unity deal was reached.
The four-year term of the Palestinian Legislative Council, or parliament, is due to expire in January 2010, at which time fresh elections must be held, according to the Palestinian constitution.
Mr Abbas' presidential term expired earlier this year.