Abbas to deliver speech, may call early elections

By Staff
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RAMALLAH, West Bank, Dec 16 (Reuters) Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas may call early elections today in a much anticipated speech after violence between his Fatah group and the ruling Hamas movement stirred fears of civil war.

Internal tensions are at their worst in a decade after months of talks between the Hamas Islamists and Fatah on forging a unity government foundered, dashing Palestinian hopes that an end to crippling Western sanctions could be in sight.

Abbas's forces wounded 32 Hamas supporters in the West Bank city of Ramallah yesterday when they fired on protesters. Gunbattles between the factions also erupted in Gaza.

The president is expected to give a major speech around midday (1530 IST) in Ramallah.

''He is leaning towards calling for early elections,'' Saeb Erekat, a senior aide to Abbas, told Reuters.

''The president's choice is between bullets and ballots. He will choose ballots. Ballots are the only way to avoid the prospect of a civil war.'' Hamas, which surprised Fatah to win parliamentary elections in January, has said it would regard such a move as a coup.

Khalil al-Hayya, the head of Hamas's faction in parliament, yesterday said Hamas would not agree to holding an early election or a referendum on the issue. He did not say what steps Hamas would take if Abbas sought to call new elections.

The Palestinian basic law, which acts as a constitution, has no provision on calling early elections.

Fatah officials say Abbas can do this by issuing a presidential decree. Hamas contends it would be illegal.

Some analysts question whether Abbas will make such a bold announcement with emotions running at fever pitch.

''He will threaten to hold early elections or a referendum but I do not think he is suicidal,'' political analyst Basem Zubeideh was quoted as saying in the Palestine Times daily.

US SUPPORT FOR ABBAS Hamas said it would boycott Abbas's address in protest at the ''systematic security anarchy'' caused by Abbas's forces and the mounting violence.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told Reuters she would ask Congress for tens of millions of dollars to strengthen Abbas's security forces. Washington wants to ensure Abbas emerges victorious in any power struggle with Hamas.

Hamas has led the government since March but has largely been unable to govern because of the Western sanctions and Israel's withholding of vital tax transfers.

The measures were imposed because of Hamas's refusal to recognise Israel and renounce violence.

Both Israel and the United States would be happy to see the Hamas government fall. They regard Hamas as a terrorist group.

While Abbas has hinted he could take decisive steps, such as sacking the government, he has so far been cautious.

''People are getting killed in the streets. There are accusations and counter accusations,'' said Palestinian analyst Ali Jarbawi.

''This is a call by his people to do something.'' Hayya accused Abbas of starting a war after yesterday's internal violence.

The latest bloodshed came after Hamas accused a Fatah strongman and Abbas's presidential guard of trying to kill Prime Minister and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh outside the Rafah border crossing with Egypt late on Thursday.

Egyptian officials have begun mediation efforts between Fatah and Hamas aimed at defusing tensions.

Reuters LL GC1005

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