Abu Mazen claims victory in the Palestinians' first Presidential election in nine years:

According to the exit polls, released moments after polls closed at 9 p.m. local time, Mr. Abbas is expected to win the election with about 65 percent of the vote, more than 40 percentage points ahead of his nearest challenger in a weak field of seven...Despite being held under Israeli occupation, the voting was judged by international observers to be generally free and fair, with little interference from Israel, which eased travel restrictions on Palestinians and largely halted military activity in the territories. But there was concern about a turnout that was lower than expected on a cold but sunny winter's day, and Palestinian election officials decided to keep the polls open for an additional two hours, until 9 p.m. The election officials first said that Israeli restrictions at checkpoints and confusion at Jerusalem polling stations were the reasons for the extension. But the announcement came after reports of low turnout in some cities, including this one, where election workers at one polling station, the Al Qarami School, said that only 30 percent of those registered had voted by 4:30 p.m...One of the exit polls today estimated turnout at about 65 percent, but again, actual figures will not be available until Monday. In partial municipal elections last month in only 26 towns and villages, turnout was 81 percent... Mr. Abbas was looking for a sizable popular mandate to provide him the legitimacy and authority to make difficult internal reforms, reorganize Palestinian security services and to negotiate with Israel...Despite their boycott call, Hamas spokesmen made clear today that they would work with an elected president. Mahmoud Zahar, a Hamas leader in Gaza, told reporters that Hamas could have run its own candidate if it really wanted to undermine Mr. Abbas. "Our view is not to undermine," he said, although he insisted that armed resistance to Israel will continue. Mr. Abbas has called for a cease-fire. Mr. Abbas, known as Abu Mazen, called the election a source of pride for Palestinians as he voted here this morning at Mr. Arafat's former headquarters, the Muqata. "This process is taking place in a marvelous fashion and is an illustration of how the Palestinian people aspire to democracy," he said. He urged women in particular to exercise their right to vote.