Palestinians want the Americans to ensure smooth elections (ha ha!!)

ERUSALEM Palestinian leaders have outlined plans to persuade visiting American envoys to help ensure smooth elections to replace Yasser Arafat.
They want the Americans to prod Israel into removing troops from urban areas to ensure Palestinians are not intimidated during the elections on January ninth.

U-S Assistant Secretary of State William Burns met separately today with Israel's national security adviser and the interim Palestinian leadership. It's the first visit of a senior American official to the Palestinian areas in months.

Burns is laying the groundwork for the arrival later today of Secretary of State Colin Powell. The visits signify a renewed American interest in the renewal of the peace process.

Cabinet Minister Saeb Erekat (sah-EEB' EHR'-ih-kaht) says the Palestinians area also trying -- through the Americans -- to work out a meeting on elections arrangements with Israeli counterparts.
http://www.wane.com/Global/story.asp?S=2595707

Does Diebold have offices in Jerusalem