NABLUS, December 2 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) - Fatah West Bank leader Marwan Barghuti’s u-turn decision to vie in the presidential race triggered angry reactions from the mainstream movement.

Palestinian Liberation Organization chairman Mahmoud Abbas stressed Thursday. November 2, that he was Fatah's only candidate in next month's presidential election.

“Fatah has chosen a sole candidate and I believe that the Fatah movement will do its up most” to ensure his victory, he told a press conference in Gaza City.

Abbas, a former prime minister, made no specific mention to Barghuti, serving a 139-year sentence in Israeli prisons, who stunned Fatah by registering for the vote.

“I officially presented Marwan's candidacy for the presidential elections,” his wife Fadwa said Wednesday December 1.

“Barghuti changed his mind after talk began - inside Fatah and on the Palestinian front - on gathering weapons [of Palestinian factions] and ending the Intifadah," Adoul Barghuti, a Fatah leader and political analyst, told IslamOnline.net.

Barghuti is seen my many Palestinians as the legitimate father of Al-Aqsa Intifada against the Israeli occupation which broke out in September 2000.

Other analysts said Barghuti had been pressured into withdrawing his nomination at first to avoid divisions inside Fatah.

“But he seems unsatisfied with the situation in the Palestinian land,” said Telal Oukal, another expert.

He believed that the Fatah leader was also angered by the lack of serious steps to reorganize the Palestinian house or draw a clear line marking the post-elections ere.

Mubarak said Barghuti’s last-minute candidacy would split Palestinians (AFP)

Barghuti’s decision drew wide opposition not only from Fatah leaders and Palestinian officials, but also from heavyweight Egypt.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak Thursday said Barghuti’s last-minute candidacy would split Palestinians, reported Agence France-Presse (AFP).

“Barghuti had said that he would not nominate himself and he turned around and announced his candidacy. These matters divide the Palestinians.”

The Egyptian leader, who predicted Abbas would win presidential elections, appealed for unity among Palestinians and urged them to set their differences aside.

“We urge the Palestinians to have one voice and there is no need for differences at a time when we want to avoid differences,” he added.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Thursday that Barghuti would not be released to run the election.

“He will have to take part from inside the prison where he is incarcerated,” Sharon told a press conference in Tel Aviv.

Some members of Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, Fatah’s military wing, in Gaza Strip told IOL that they would ask Barghuti to opt out of the presidential race.

“Our message will be conveyed to him loud and clear soon,” said Abu Qusay, the Brigades leader in Gaza, pressing the need for unity inside Fatah.

The Brigades has reiterated backing to Abbas.

Ten candidates, including seven independents, have been officially registered to run for the post of Palestinian Authority president.

Apart from Fatah, two other parties submitted candidates.

Tayssir Khaled will run for the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) while Bassam Al-Salhi is on the list for the People's Party (the former communist party).

Another dark horse is the acting speaker of parliament, Hassan Khreisheh, who has established a reputation as a vigorous anti-corruption campaigner.

The prominent democracy activist Mustafa Barghuti and the Nablus university professor Abdelsattar Qassem are also key contenders.

The two main Palestinian resistance groups, Hamas and Islamic Jihad, have officially declared their boycott of the vote.

Hamas pressed for general elections  in the occupied Palestinian territories, to elect a president, a new parliament and municipalities.