The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) denied Thursday that it had submitted an official request to the United Nations that Palestine become a member of the world body.
A new grassroots campaign, however, had submitted such a request to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. The initiative is entitled, National Campaign Palestine: State no. 194, and is backed by various Palestinian activists.
The campaign was officially launched Thursday with the letter to Ban.
A spokesman for the PLO negotiations affairs department, Xavier Abu Eid, however, said that letter was not official and only the PLO could make the final and official request for state recognition.
A date for the submission had yet to be set, he told the German Press Agency dpa.
"The PA (Palestinian Authority) does not have any international relations mandate. The only one that can negotiate or sign agreements is the PLO, so the PLO is going to submit the official request," he said.
The grassroots campaign will include a host of activities in the coming weeks, including demonstrations in support of the United Naations bid.