The Palestinian government's ruling Hamas party on Saturday dismissed Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas' call for early election, calling it a bid by Abbas to overthrow the government

"The Palestinian government rejects this call for early elections and considers it a coup against Palestinian legitimacy and the will of the Palestinian people," the government said in a statement Saturday.

Hamas legislator Mushir al-Masri said the group considers early elections illegal, and called Abbas' speech announcing his plans one "of defeat and submission to the Zionist enemy."

	Advertisement

Abbas announced Saturday that he has decided to call fresh elections as soon as possible, drawing condemnation from the ruling Hamas movement.

Also Saturday, Abbas decided to revive the PLO negotiating department, signaling he may pursue peace talks with Israel despite a growing political crisis at home.

The decision, announced by Abbas' office, came just hours after Abbas called for early presidential and legislative elections, in a dramatic challenge to the ruling Islamic militant Hamas movement.

Yasser Abed Rabbo, a member of the PLO executive committee, told Haaretz that the election date would be set within about two weeks.

Saeb Erekat, principal negotiator of the Palestinian Authority, said that the required bureaucratic processes meant that elections could not take place before mid-2007.

Abbas also decided to appoint a new leadership committee for his Fatah Party, in apparent preparations for the elections, his office said.

"I... decided to call for early presidential and parliament elections," Abbas said, after outlining months of failed coalition talks with Hamas. "Let us return to the people, to hear their word, and let them be the judge."

The PA chairman said that he had the right to fire the Hamas-led government.

"This is a constitutional right. I can do it whenever I want," Abbas said, in a speech broadcast live on Palestine TV, after a week of clashes between his Fatah movement and the ruling Hamas.

"The dismissal of the government is not like [Hamas Foreign Minister] Mahmoud Zahar said, a recipe for civil war. They don't scare us."

"I will look into and have discussed with the Central Election Committee to find the earliest possible way to start preparing for this matter," he added.

In the West Bank city of Nablus, hundreds of supporters of Abbas' Fatah movement rushed into the street in celebration, with dozens of gunmen firing in the air. "Abu Mazen, go, go, we are with you until liberation," the crowd chanted, referring Abbas by his nom de guerre.

In Gaza City, dozens of Fatah loyalists and members of his Presidential Guard gathered outside his residence, firing weapons in the air in celebration and chanting: "We are ready to redeem you with our souls and blood, Abu Mazen."

Abbas said that in the interim period all efforts should be made to form a unity government made up of technocrats, but that Fatah was no longer interested in sharing power with Hamas. "Any government that is formed, Fatah will stay outside," he said.

Speaking about Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, Abbas said that he respects the premier, whom he called a "noble and honest man," and is willing to have him at the head of a unity government.

"I think today Abu Mazen made history," said Saeb Erekat, a senior Abbas aide. "I think he saved his people from the prospect of civil war... We have a crisis. We have an authority with two heads. So what do we do? Bullets or ballots? Abu Mazen said ballots."

Abbas aide Yasser Abed Rabbo said shortly after the PA chairman's announcement that the date for early elections will be set within a week, and that vote would be held within three months.

Erekat said, however, he did not expect elections to be held before June.

In his address, Abbas blamed the ruling militant group for the spiraling crisis in the Palestinian territories.

He said Hamas had refused to meet international demands to recognize Israel and renounce violence, which had led to crippling Western sanctions and internal political deadlock.

Abbas said that the Palestinians needed a government that could end the international aid boycott.

"Do I need a government for entertainment? I need a government that can lift the siege," he said.

He said a political solution was also needed to resolve the internal Palestinian violence that has raised fears of civil war. "Without a political agreement, security will remain disturbed."

Abbas also rejected claims of a conspiracy to kill Haniyeh, who came under fire Thursday night when re-entering the Gaza Strip at the Rafah crossing. Many Palestinians in Gaza blamed Fatah officials loyal to Abbas for the assassination attempt, in which one of Haniyeh's bodyguards was killed and his son was wounded by gunfire.