Palestinian leaders moved Monday toward a postponement of their first congress in nearly 20 years, officials said, as speculation mounted over the intentions of Palestinian Authority Chief Mahmoud Abbas.

Palestinian leaders moved Monday toward a postponement of their first congress in nearly 20 years, officials said, as speculation mounted over the intentions of Palestinian Authority Chief Mahmoud Abbas.

The meeting of the Palestine National Council, a congress representing those in the Palestinian territories and the Diaspora, was to take place on September 14-15, but a new date is likely to be set.

"The executive committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization during its meeting on Monday called on the head of the PNC Salim al-Zanoon to set a new date" for the congress, said PLO official Wassel Abu Yussef.

Abbas recently announced his resignation as chairman of the PLO in a bid to force new elections for its executive committee.

His resignation along with a number of others from the 18-member committee will only take effect with a meeting of the PNC, which includes more than 700 people.

He remains president of the Palestinian Authority and leader of his Fatah party.
Abbas's allies say his recent moves are part of efforts to inject new blood in the Palestinian leadership.

Critics, however, argue that Abbas is maneuvering to empower his allies and marginalize opponents ahead of the 80-year-old's eventual retirement.

Hamas, the Islamic Resistance Movement which belongs to neither the PLO nor the 740-member PNC, has called for a boycott of the congress. Hamas and Fatah remain deeply divided.