Fatah concludes elections

Members of Fatah finish voting in an election marking the movement's first convention in 20 years, in a bid to reinvigorate the leadership by bringing in new faces.

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BETHLEHEM, WEST BANK // Members of the Palestinian Fatah organisation have finished voting in an election marking the movement's first convention in 20 years. The new members of the organisation's powerful central committee are to be announced this afternoon. The results will show whether Fatah has succeeded in reinvigorating the movement by bringing new faces into its ageing leadership. The more than 2,000 delegates to the convention are electing candidates to 18 open seats on the 23-member committee. Delegates are also electing 80 members to the 130-seat Revolutionary Council. Fatah dominates the Palestinian government in the West Bank, and the committees will have to approve any peace deal with Israel. The conference ends tomorrow.

* AP