I'm not linked to rival parties

Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) member Ghassan Shekaa denied allegations that he was secretly backing defected Fatah and PLO member Mohammed Dahlan. Ghassan Shekaa stressed that his position in the Ramallah-based organisation is independent and not affiliated to any of the rival parties within the PLO. "I have familial ties with Dahlan but this has nothing to do with my role in the PLO. I'm absolutely committed to supporting the national legitimacy represented in the PLO and its leader, President Mahmoud Abbas," Shekaa told Arabstoday. He recently won a seat in the municipal elections in Nablus city. Shekaa revealed that he filed his resignation from Fatah to President Abbas two years ago due to the internal strife witnessed between rival parties of the movement. He is yet to receive a response from the Palestinian president, he said. However, he stressed that his relation with Abbas is as good as ever, stating that the president hailed his win in the election of Nablus during a recent meeting for the PLO leaders. "I have known Abbas since the sixties; we were raised together in Fatah's house. This is history I couldn't ignore. I know well enough how valuable the sacrifices of the first generation of Fatah's strugglers, of whom only President Abbas and Abu Maher are still alive," he said. Shekaa said the winning candidates of Nablus election will hold a meeting soon to elect a chairman. He insisted that political differences between the municipality members will not affect their work. "We reached this position to serve the people, not to compete in political games," he said.