RAMALLAH, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Palestine has extended an official invitation to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to observe its general elections scheduled for May 22, an official statement said Wednesday.

The Palestinian Central Elections Commission (PCEC) said in a press statement that Hanna Nasser, chairman of PCEC, handed the official invitation to OIC Representative in Palestine Ali Safi.

The regional observation of the Palestinian elections "is important and will guarantee the election's results," Nasser said, urging other regional bodies to monitor the elections, according to the statement.

Nasser said on Sunday that Palestine extended invitations to the European Parliament and the European Union to observe the Palestinian elections.

On Jan. 15, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas issued a decree setting dates for holding the legislative and presidential elections as well as a vote for the Palestinian National Council.

Under the decree, legislative elections will be held on May 22, presidential elections on July 31, and the Palestinian National Council elections on Aug. 31.

The last legislative elections held in the Palestinian territories were in late 2006 when the Hamas movement won a majority. Abbas was elected as the president of the Palestinian Authority in 2005. Enditem

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