STRASBOURG, October 5, 2011 (WAFA) – President Mahmoud Abbas headed to Strasbourg on Wednesday to address the European Parliament currently in session.

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) voted to grant the “Partner for democracy” status to the Palestinian National Council on Tuesday.

Strasbourg is the first stop in Abbas’ scheduled tour to the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and France to rally international support for the Palestinian application to the United Nations Security Council for membership of a Palestinian state.

R.Q./F.J.