(Angus Reid - CPOD Global Scan) - Former prime minister Mahmoud Abbas of the Fatah faction remains the top contender in the Palestinian Authority's presidential election, according to a poll by the Jerusalem Media and Communication Centre. 42.5 per cent of respondents would vote for Abbas in the election.

Marwan Barghouti—who was convicted in an Israeli court and sentenced to five life terms in prison for his alleged involvement in deadly attacks by the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades—was originally registered as a candidate, but withdrew from the race on Dec. 12.

Barghouti's distant cousin Mustafa—the leader of the Palestinian National Initiative—is second with 14.6 per cent, followed by Bassam Salhi of the formerly communist People's Party and Tayssir Khaled of the socialist Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine. More than 22 per cent of respondents say they will not vote, and 13.6 per cent remain undecided.

The election was scheduled for Jan. 9, 2005 after the death of Yasser Arafat on Nov. 11. Former parliamentary speaker Rawhi Fattuh is the Palestinian Authority's interim president.

On Dec. 15, Abbas said he is personally "against the militarization of the intifada because we want to negotiate. The atmosphere should be calm in preparation for political action." Radical groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad rejected the proposal.

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So far, there are seven candidates for the Palestinian Authority's president's post, who will you vote for?

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