Abbas re-elected as head of Fatah

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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has been re-elected head of Fatah at the party's first conference in two decades. The appointment strengthens the hand of the leader in his bid to revive peace talks with Israel.

On Saturday, hundreds of delegates in the West Bank city of Ramallah clapped and cheered as a senior Fatah official announced that Mahmoud Abbas had been chosen to lead the party.

But his ability to negotiate on behalf of Palestinians will depend on whether Abbas can revive Fatah's flagging fortunes and heal a rift with rival party Hamas.

Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian President, said, "We will remain here and we will fight here in the homeland. We will continue to fight and continue to work to assure the world that Fatah cannot be divided or split."

There was no vote because no other candidates came forward to challenge the five-year rule of Abbas.

A former Gaza strongman who is also a Fatah member says it's the right decision.