Hamas rejects holding elections before reaching reconciliation

Gaza ruling Islamic Hamas movement rejected on Friday holding the general elections in the Palestinian territories before the Palestinian factions reach a reconciliation agreement.

Ahmed Bahar, a senior Gaza-based Hamas leader told dozens of the group's supporters in Gaza City that "any elections held in the Palestinian territories without any national accordance won't be accepted."

"Holding elections before reaching a national agreement would deepen split among the two parts of the Palestinian territories, Gaza Strip and the West Bank," said Bahar, who is also a deputy speaker of the parliament.

He went on saying that Hamas is seeking "free and fair elections," adding "we have to prepare the healthy atmosphere away from the requirements of the international Quartet which wants us to recognize Israel."

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Central Council of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) would convene on Saturday to decide on a date for holding the elections, which is constitutionally due on Jan. 25 next year.

On Oct. 25, three months before the constitutional date for the elections, President Mahmoud Abbas is scheduled to issue a decree to announce the date for holding the presidential and legislative elections.

It is not clear yet if Abbas would make Jan. 25 as the date for holding the elections, or he would postpone it for another six months according to an Egyptian drafted pact for reconciliation.

Source: Xinhua