Cairo: Yasser Arafat said on Egyptian television on July 17 that he would be a candidate in January's Palestinian leadership elections.

Asked if he would run, Arafat said, "Of course, if I am tasked by the Palestinian command (because) I am proud of our Democracy."

He added, "I will refer to the executive committee and the central committee (of the Palestine Liberation Organisation), then afterwards I will stand in the elections."

"It is imperative," he added.

It was the first time Arafat, whom Washington wants to see removed from power, had said that he intended to run in the Palestinian Presidential elections slated for January.