LOC12:54
09:54 GMT
RAMALLAH, Sept 18 (KUNA) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas flew to New
York on Sunday with the intention to submit a request for Palestine's
membership in the United Nations, it was officially reported.
Abbas, due to address the UN General Assembly, was accompanied by ranking
officials, namely Dr. Nabil Shaath, member of the Central Committee of Fatah,
Dr. Saeb Oreikat, member of the Executive Commitee of the Palestine Liberation
Organization (PLO), and the close aides, Yasser Abed Rabbo and Akram Hanniah.
The president has recently declared his intention to seek membership of the
Palestinian state in the international organization.
He has defied a torrent of pressure from various powers and states, namely
and Israel and the US, to abstain from such a move.
Washington has rejected this Palestinian approach and called anew for
sitting at the negotiating table for settling the Israeli-Palestinian strife.
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KUNA 181254 Sep 11NNNN