Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has been re-elected as party leader at a Fatah congress in the West Bank town of Bethlehem.

An overwhelming majority of the more than 2000 delegates voted in favour of Mr Abbas, who is considered a moderate. The vote had originally been scheduled for Thursday but was delayed due to arguments over procedure.

Delegates will vote on membership of two important committees on Sunday. The first Fatah congress in 20 years was marred by bitter fighting between reformists and members of the old guard. Younger Fatah members accused the old guard of nepotism and vote rigging.

The party is divided on how to deal with the radical Islamist Hamas party, which controls the Gaza Strip. Elections are scheduled for January in the Palestinian Territories and Fatah's leadership has to unite the party in order to defeat Hamas. The Islamists won the last election, in 2006, by a landslide. the Islamist Hamas party.