Ahmed Qureia (file)

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia has submitted his resignation to run for a seat in the Palestinian parliament in next month's elections.

Mr. Qureia, a former Fatah party peace negotiator under the late Yasser Arafat, was required by law to leave office ahead of the January 25 polls.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas did not immediately name a replacement.

Late Wednesday, the rival Hamas party registered a slate of candidates headed by senior leader Ismail Haniyah.  The slate also includes two widows of prominent militants killed by the Israeli military.

Another candidate, Mariam Farhat, is the mother of three militant sons killed over the past three years by Israeli forces.

Meanwhile, the fourth and final phase of local council elections was completed Thursday in parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.  
 
Some information for this report provided by AFP.