Middle East News

Palestinian factions in Syria reject Abbas call for early polls

Dec 16, 2006, 17:51 GMT

Damascus - Syrian-based Palestinian factions on Saturday rejected Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' call for early parliamentary and presidential elections in the Palestinian territories. The ten Damascus-based ten factions said in a joint statement they 'rejected the call for early legislative elections as there is no justified cause for it and it is illegal and lacks for real Palestinian conscious.' The statement was read by Maher Taher, the leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. In a challenge to the ruling Hamas movement, Abbas had announced earlier in the day that he would call new presidential and parliament elections at the earliest possible date. The factions' statement renewed the call for formation a national unity government and 'continued efforts and national dialogue to form this government through inter-Palestinian dialogue based on the Palestinian accord document.' The factions also condemned the attack on Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, who came under fire Thursday night when re- entering the Gaza Strip at Rafah, and called on an 'independent investigation committee' to identify the responsible party. © 2006 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur

Middle East News

Palestinian factions in Syria reject Abbas call for early polls

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