Abbas raises Palestinian election, Hamas say No

[oberliner]

RAMALLAH, West Bank, Nov 23 (Reuters)- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Sunday he would call for elections in 2009 if his secular Fatah movement and its Islamist rivals Hamas do not reconcile by the end of this year.

"If the dialogue does not begin, and if we fail, I will issue a presidential decree early next year calling for simultaneous presidential and parliamentary elections," Abbas told members of the Palestine Liberation Organisation.

He did not name a date. Elections could be held 90 days after his decree, but there was no hint of when that might be.

Hamas quickly rejected Abbas's statement.

"It is an illegal and unconstitutional call," said spokesman Fawzi Barhoum. Calling for elections "confirms his absolute intentions to foil the dialogue".

http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnLN485444.html

[Kurska]

1. Even as a supporter of the PA

I question if any election in palestine can be free and fair at present. Not only would Abbas's political future hinge on the election, but some might say his very life.