SYRIA: Palestinian factions in Syria hold meeting in Damascus to condemn Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's call for fresh elections

Record ID: 279084

  • Title: SYRIA: Palestinian factions in Syria hold meeting in Damascus to condemn Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's call for fresh elections
  • Date: 17th December 2006
  • Summary: (BN13) DAMASCUS, SYRIA (DECEMBER 16, 2006) (REUTERS) LEADERS OF PALESTINIAN FACTIONS ARRIVING TO THE CONFERENCE HALL SHOT OF CAMERAS
  • Embargoed: 1st January 2007 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAAN66PZRVB02KL0B2SY54SUT4D
  • Story Text: Palestinian factions in Syria held a meeting in Damascus on Saturday (December 16) to condemn Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's call for fresh elections.
    Abbas threw down the gauntlet to his Hamas rivals after days of factional violence, saying renewed efforts should be made to form a government that could lift Western sanctions and parliamentary and presidential polls should be held at the earliest opportunity.
    Hamas accused Abbas of launching a coup against its administration and said the president had no authority to call early elections.
    The movement's leaders said they would never allow early elections to be held but did not say how.
    In Syria, factional representatives condemned the suggestion.
    "The attendees confirmed their protestation to do early elections. Because there are no real reasons for that, they are illegal, and they are not accepted," said Maher al-Taher, speaking on behalf of the Palestinian Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
    Khaled Meshaal, the leader of Hamas Group, said he refused to accept fresh elections -- calling them illegal -- and that Hamas represented popular opinion.
    "Let anybody do any procedures they want but we follow the national opinion and the Palestinian popular directions. We all refuse any illegal procedure," he said.
    Internal Palestinian tensions are at their highest in a decade after the collapse of months of talks between the Hamas Islamist movement and Fatah on forging a unity cabinet.
    Fatah activists in Gaza and the West Bank broke into celebrations when Abbas issued the election call, firing weapons into the air.
    Hours later gunmen from Fatah and Hamas clashed in Gaza and at least six people were wounded, witnesses said.
    Hamas surprised Fatah by winning parliamentary elections in January. Abbas was elected separately in early 2005 in a presidential poll that Hamas did not contest.
    The Palestinian basic law, which acts as a constitution, has no provision for calling early elections.
    Fatah officials say Abbas can do so by issuing a Presidential decree. Hamas said it would be illegal.
    Current opinion polls do not indicate which faction would win elections. Abbas has also effectively put his own job on the line. Palestinian political analyst Ali Jarbawi, who met Abbas on Friday, told Reuters the President told him he would not run.
    Abbas wants a negotiated peace settlement with Israel. Hamas's charter calls for the Jewish state's destruction, a stance that has scuppered previous unity government talks.
    Sanctions were imposed on Hamas after it took office in March because it refused to recognise Israel and renounce violence.
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