The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) opposed on Wednesday Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' decision to hold the legislative elections in January 2006, local press reported.

Hamas leader Ismaael Haneya made the statement at a news conference following his meeting with Abbas in Gaza on Tuesday night.

He told the reporters that Hamas is still insisting that the legislative elections should be held before the end of this year.

It was the first meeting between Abbas and Hamas leaders following armed confrontations between Hamas militants and Palestinian security sources that erupted three weeks ago in the Gaza Strip.

Committing to the spirit of Cairo agreement which reiterates the fact that elections must be held, we are still stick to holding the elections before the end of 2005, Haneya said.

Meanwhile, the Hamas senior leader said that we are keen to our national unity and implementing it as immediate as possible according to the agreement we reached in Cairo related to re arranging our internal Palestinian home.

Abbas announced earlier on Tuesday that the parliamentary elections in the West Bank and Gaza Strip will be held in January 2006, without setting up a specific date.

Abbas said in a speech he addressed before the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) that the legislative elections would be held in January after both the basic law and the elections law that were passed by the PLC few weeks ago will be implemented

Abbas said that he will issue a presidential decree soon after the two laws, basic law and elections law, are ready, where a specific date for holding the elections on January would be set up.

Source: Xinhua