GAZA, August 12, 2005, (WAFA)- President Mahmoud Abbas has inaugurated Friday the Palestinian celebrations on the Israeli evacuation from the Gaza Strip and northern parts of the West Bank.

"The march of freedom and democracy begins today. We need the occupation to leave us forever," President Abbas said in a festival organized at Gaza fishingport, by the Civil Support and Protection Commission.

He added that the Palestinian people are celebrating on the liberation of Gaza and "tomorrow" will celebrate the liberation of Jenin and the occupied East Jerusalem.

President added that the Palestinian people are eager to give the occupation the opportunity to be ended.

"From this point, our people begin building the independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital," he stressed.

President was talking from a small tent, installed on the port, where tens of thousands gathered together carrying the flags of Palestine and T-shirts holding the slogan "Today Gaza and Tomorrow the West Bank and Jerusalem."

The fishermen decorated their boats with flags of Palestine and set out across the sea.

The flags of various Palestinian organizations have been disappeared. The only flag raised was the flag of Palestine as a symbol of the Palestinian national unity.

S.A.S. (19:35 P) (19:35 GMT)