**Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will not seek re-election in polls next year, reports suggest.**Officials from the Palestine Liberation Organisation told journalists in the West Bank that Mr Abbas “insists on not running” in the 24 January election.
A aide to Mr Abbas said earlier a lack of progress in peace talks with Israel and failure to achieve reconciliation with Hamas could prompt such a move.
But another aide said PLO officials were trying to change Mr Abbas’ mind.
Mr Abbas took over after Yasser Arafat died in 2004 and became Palestinian Authority president a year later.
But he has struggled to make headway towards a peace deal in negotiations with Israel, amid deadlock over the issue of Israeli settlements.
He has also faced rivalry from the Hamas movement, which won legislative elections in January 2006 and controls Gaza.
Officials say they expect him to make a formal announcement later in the day.