Barghouthi to run for Palestine president

Firebrand Intafada leader Marwan Barghouthi has decided to run for Palestinian president from his Israeli jail cell, an official of his Fatah faction said on Thursday.

The candidacy could throw the Jan. 9 election wide open and pose a dramatic challenge to Israel, which might face international pressure to free the West Bank Fatah leader it jailed in June for five life terms over killings of Israelis.

‘‘He has decided to run for president,’’ the official, who said he had spoken with Barghouthi’s lawyer, told Reuters. ‘‘An official announcement will be made within 24 hours.’’ The official said more consultations were needed on whether Barghouthi would run as the candidate of a group within Fatah —— which could split the faction —— or as an independent. —Reuters