EXCLUSIVE PICTURES

On Wednesday 21, rallies were organised in cities across the West Bank to demonstrate support for Mahmoud Abbas as he heads to the United Nations in New York to submit the Palestinian bid for full membership of the body and the establishment of a state of Palestinian as the 194th UN member state. Crowds across the West Bank demonstrated in main city squares including the Yasser Arafat Square in the city of Ramallah and Martyr's Square in Nablus.

Activities, which began this morning at eleven and will continue until the UN vote has taken place, were attended by students and representatives from various companies and institutions. However, the rallied have been boycotted by the Hamas leadership and their supporters underscoring their objections to the UN move and the demands that there should be a national political consensus on any steps taken by President Mahmoud Abbas.