RAMALLAH, Dec. 19 (Xinhuanet) -- The Palestinian Central Electoral Commission announced Sunday that seven candidates will run in the Jan. 9 presidential election.

   The list comprises three candidates representing political factions and four independent candidates, among them is Fatah candidate Mahmoud Abbas who has won the highest percentage of support in recent polls and expected widely to become the successor to late leader Yasser Arafat.

   The campaign for the presidential elections is scheduled to start on Dec. 25 and finish on Jan. 7. 

   Meanwhile, the first 42 international observers have arrived in the Palestinian territories to monitor the election.

   The team, part of the 260 observers from the European Union, will go to West Bank cities.  Enditem