Profile of front runner in Palestinian elections

(8 Jan 2005) Gaza City, Gaza Strip - 1992 1. Palestinian president candidate Mahmoud Abbas arriving in Gaza after the Oslo Accords 2. Abbas greeted by officials 3. Abbas and Yasser Arafat embracing The White House, Washington DC, USA - 13/9/93 4. Wide shot signing of Oslo Peace Accords (Abbas on right) 5. Various of signing ceremony, officials shaking hands, clapping FILE - Jerusalem 6. Abbas signing document with Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy FILE - Erez junction, Israel/Gaza Strip 7. Shimon Peres and Arafat and Abbas up steps for meeting FILE - Ramallah, West Bank 8. Abbas, Ahmed Qureia and Arafat seated Jericho, West Bank - 22/11/04 9.Close up Abbas 10. Abbas greets US Secretary of State Colin Powell FILE - Jerusalem 11. Abbas shaking hands with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon Ramallah, West Bank - September 2003 12. Abbas through crowds after resigning as Prime Minister Ramallah, West Bank - 13/11/04 13. Abbas laying wreath at Arafat's grave Gaza City, Gaza Strip - 14/11/04 14. Abbas surrounded by security (AUDIO firing) Ramallah, West Bank - 23/11/04 15. Ahmed Qureia and Abbas cleaning their glasses at memorial session of Palestinian Legislative Council Gaza City, Gaza Strip - 31/12/04 16. Wide shot Abbas at rally 17. Abbas at rally 18. Close up Abbas waving to crowds 19. SOUNDBITE (Arabic): Mahmoud Abbas, Chariman of PLO: "A promise is a promise - that a Palestinian child will raise the Palestinian flag over the minarets and churches and walls of Jerusalem." 20. Abbas STORYLINE Mahmoud Abbas could hardly be more different from the man he seeks to replace. He was the quiet man in the grey business suit who stood beside Yasser Arafat - the flamboyant revolutionary in military fatigues and checkered keffiyeh for four decades, whispering pragmatic advice. But the 69-year-old former prime minister can be just as tough as Arafat on the core issues of the Palestinians' future. Abbas, commonly called Abu Mazen, was elected chief of the Palestine Liberation Organization hours after Arafat died in a French hospital. Officials say the unanimous vote by the PLO executive to give Abbas the most powerful of the three titles held by Arafat put him on track to be elected president of the Palestinian government after a 60-day transition. In 2003, when Arafat was compelled under international pressure to create a Palestinian government, Abbas was his first choice for prime minister, but the two men quarreled over the division of powers and Abbas walked out four months later. Abbas has never bothered to cultivate a personal following. He disliked being interviewed in the media and speaks with none of Arafat's passion and charisma. His lack of popularity or cadre of loyalists could hamper him in building the support he needs to solidify his firm grip on the fractious, volatile Palestinian organisations and institutions. Abbas can be moody and holds grudges. When he fell out with Arafat last year, the two men did not speak until a reconciliation after Arafat became gravely ill. While Arafat surrounded himself with cronies, Abbas' inner circle is small and not particularly intimate. Abbas also prefers to listen rather than talk and is willing to make collective decisions, as evidenced by the unofficial power-sharing partnership he formed with Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia to run Palestinian affairs after Arafat became incapacitated last month. He also was a member of the central committee of Fatah, Arafat's political movement, and of the Palestinian legislature. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...