Palestinian statement:
Elections postponed until Isreal withdraws from self-rule areas
The Palestinian leadership has postponed plans to hold general elections next month.
The Palestinian cabinet minister Saeb Erekat said the move was caused by the Israeli occupation, and what he called obstruction and closures.
A Palestinian cabinet statement said polls "would be held immediately after occupation forces pull back" to positions held before the Palestinian uprising began in September, 2000, Reuters news agency reported.
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat agreed in May to hold presidential and parliamentary elections following domestic and international pressure to reform his administration.
Last week the Palestinian electoral committee urged Mr Arafat to delay the elections until Israeli forces withdrew from the West Bank.
Israel took control of Palestinian self-rule areas in June this year following a spate of Palestinian suicide bombings against Israeli targets.
