SIS's Poll: Candidate Abu Mazen Wins Vast Majority Support [Barghouthi not
in poll]
www.ipc.gov.ps/ipc_new/english/details.asp?name=1299

[IMRA: Marwan Barghouthi, who has decided to run as an independent, is not
included in the poll.]

GAZA, Palestine, December 4, 2004 (IPC Exclusive)--[Official arm of the PA]
A recent State Information Service's (SIS) poll has revealed that Mr.
Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), chairman of Palestine Liberation Organization
(PLO), who is running for the Palestinian presidential elections to succeed
thr late President Yasser Arafat, has won support of vast majority of those
surveyed in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

According to the SIS's poll, which is the second in row, showed that Abu
Mazen, won the backing of 53% of those polled compared to previous results
(40.5%).

The second man was Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi, who won 19.1%, compared to 20.3%
in a previous poll, the third was Prof. Abdulsatar Qqassem, of the local
university of Alnajjah (4.6%/5.4%), Speaker of the Palestinian Legislative
Council, Hassan Kheraisha (2.4%), female journalist, Majeda Albatsh (
1.2%/1.1%), Palestine People Party's candidate, Bassam Alsalhi (0.9%), Prof.
Ayoub Otman, of the Gaza-based Al-azhar university (0.4%), Dr. Hassan
Alnourani (0.2%/0.3%), Advocate Ghassan Burhum (0.2%/0.7%).

16.6% of the remaining polled Palestinians appeared undecided regarding
their preferred candidate.

As for participation by local citizens in the upcoming Palestinian
elections, the poll disclosed that 80.3% (78.1% of the West Bank and 84.3%
in the Gaza Strip) voiced readiness to take part, while those who will
refrain were 10%(10.3% of the West Bank, 9.4% of the Gaza Strip), whilst
those undecided were 9.7% (11.6% of the West Bank and 6.3% of the Gaza
Strip).

The said public opinion poll began in November 30, and ended in December 2,
2004 , including 2705 Palestinians aged over than 18 years-old, 992 of whom
from Gaza Strip and 1713 others from the West Bank, distributed in the
various Palestinian cities, towns, villages and refugee camps, the SIS's
Polls and Surveys Department pointed out.

More polls are to be held until January 9, 2005, the due time for the
Palestinian general elections, the department declared.