Hamas claims to win if fair elections held in territories

By Xinhua

Gaza : An official of Islamic Hamas movement claimed on Wednesday that his movement will overwhelmingly win in any future elections held in the Palestinian territories.


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Yahia Musa, a Hamas leader and lawmaker said in a statement that if elections are held in the Palestinian territories, in condition of ending the blockade, and without forgery, “Hamas willhave a strong win.”

After Hamas militia seized control of Gaza Strip in mid June last year, President Mahmoud Abbas rejected to resume dialogue with the movement and called for early presidential and legislative elections.

Yemen had recently offered rival Hamas and Fatah movements an initiative of reconciliation. The Yemeni initiative called on Hamas to end Gaza control and accept the principle of going to early presidential and legislative election.

Hamas officials didn’t say clearly they are accepting the Yemeni initiative, but said that a delegation headed to Yemen to discuss the initiative in details with Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh.

“Any elections should be held in normal circumstances and not under the Israeli blockade, away from any pressures, external interventions or forgeries,” said Musa.

Musa stressed that asking Hamas to bring the situation back to before mid June, “should also include Fatah movement to bring the situation back and end neglecting the legitimacy that Hamas got.”

Hamas movement won in the legislative elections held in January 2006, and formed the first ever national unity government. Abbas sacked the government after Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip last summer.

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