Fatah movement re-elects President Abbas as party leader
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}FILE - In this Friday, Nov. 11, 2016, file photo, Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas speaks during a press conference with Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev following a meeting in the West Bank city of Jericho. A leadership conference of the Palestinian Fatah movement has unanimously re-elected President Mahmoud Abbas to a new five-year term. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed, File) (The Associated Press)
A leadership conference of the Palestinian Fatah movement has unanimously re-elected President Mahmoud Abbas to a new five-year term.
Party official Salim Zanoun asked the gathering Monday to elect Abbas "by consensus."
The hundreds of delegates stood up and applauded Abbas, who then hugged Zanoun.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The five-day conference is expected to cement Abbas' control of Fatah and lock out his chief rival, the exiled Mohamed Dahlan.