Hamas to run in election
2005-03-12 11:45
Nablus - The Hamas militant group announced on Saturday it has decided to run in an upcoming Palestinian parliamentary election, a senior official said.
The decision was largely expected, but Hamas has emerged recently as a major Palestinian political force. Hamas' overwhelming victory in January municipal elections was a major setback for Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party.
A similar victory in a July parliamentary vote could further undermine Abbas as he tries to arrange a ceasefire with the militant groups and renew peace talks with Israel.
"We have decided to participate in the parliamentary elections," Sheik Hamed Bitawi, a Hamas leader in the West Bank said.
It was not immediately clear if the Hamas leadership in Gaza, Syria and Lebanon were aware of the announcement coming from Nablus.
- AP