Palestinian leader Abbas names likely successor in bid to reassure world powers

Abbas, 89, has headed the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA) since the death of veteran leader Yasser Arafat in 2004 but he had for years resisted internal reforms including the naming of a successor. Reform of the PA, which exercises limited autonomy in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, has been a priority for the United States and Gulf monarchies hoping the body can play a central role in resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Pressure to reform has intensified since the start of the war in Gaza, where the PLO's main Palestinian rival Hamas has battled Israel for more than 18 months, leaving the tiny, crowded territory in ruins.