Mahmoud Abbas, a former prime minister and a veteran peace negotiator, was elected chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization within hours of Yasser Arafat's death Thursday, putting him on a track to become the next leader of the Palestinians. The 69-year-old Abbas, who long worked in Arafat's shadow as the PLO's No. 2 official, takes the most powerful of the three titles Arafat held _ president of the Palestinian Authority, leader of the Fatah movement and head of the PLO. The PLO executive committee vote was unanimous, said Palestinian Cabinet minister Ibrahim Abu Najah. "That means no one will compete with him in the election for president." Under Palestinian law, general elections are to be held within 60 days. Palestinian officials moved quickly Thursday to fill the leadership gap left by the death of Arafat. Parliament Speaker Rauhi Fattouh was sworn in Thursday as temporary president of the Palestinian Authority, inheriting the title but not the power held by Arafat. Fattouh will serve as caretaker president for 60 days. Ahmed Qureia, the Palestinian prime minister, heads day-to-day government in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. "We can be certain transition will be smooth, and the Palestinian people deserve to have free and fair elections," Palestinian Cabinet minister Saeb Erekat told The Associated Press. Abbas was elected PLO chief by the organization's executive committee, in a meeting at Arafat's West Bank headquarters.
