- Title: WEST BANK: Fatah official blames Hamas for possible poll delay
- Date: 13th November 2009
- Summary: RAMALLAH, WEST BANK (NOVEMBER 12, 2009) (REUTERS) FATAH SPOKESMAN AHMED ASSAF WALKING IN STREET / SHAKING JOURNALIST'S HAND (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FATAH SPOKESMAN, AHMED ASSAF, SAYING: "We in the Fatah movement hold Hamas responsible for wrecking plans for the elections, which were scheduled legally by President Mahmoud Abbas for the 24th of January 2010. Hamas is responsible for this, and that is what the Election Central Committee have said." ASSAF TALKING TO JOURNALIST
- Embargoed: 28th November 2009 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA4FFNP2EWUKK0LBVN4U2KGM5YF
- Story Text: Palestinian faction Fatah has blamed political rivals Hamas for what seems like the inevitable postponement of the January presidential elections, announced by the central election committee on Thursday (November 12).
"We in the Fatah movement hold Hamas responsible for wrecking plans for the elections, which were scheduled legally by President Mahmoud Abbas for the 24th of January 2010. Hamas is responsible for this, and that is what the Election Central Committee have said," Fatah spokesman Ahmed Assaf said.
According to senior Palestinian officials, Abbas will accept the recommendation of the independent election experts and announce a postponement of the vote he had scheduled for January.
The Central Election Commission said it had advised Abbas to put off the election since Hamas had said it would not allow the 1.5 million Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip they control, to vote.
Hamas have repeatedly asked for reconciliation and political agreement between themselves and Fatah before any elections are held. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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