Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said a "long journey" lies ahead in the bid to secure Palestinian statehood

Mr Abbas was addressing thousands of people who gathered at his headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah today to welcome him home after delivering a speech at the United Nations last week in New York



Mr Abbas asked the UN Security Council on Friday to recognise an independent Palestinian state.



The Palestinian was widely seen as a dour bureaucrat but his popularity has skyrocketed since the speech in which he defied Israeli and US calls to give up the UN bid and instead resume peace talks.



Tens of thousands of Palestinians watched the speech on large screens set up in town squares across the West Bank.

Agencies