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Abbas Calls for Early Palestinian Elections
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?r=279&c=749657&l=1009&ctl=155A0C0:A6F02AD83191E160DD240C16CFE13DC69574F7DCC14957C0 Palestinian
president says he has right to dismiss Hamas-led government, does not
believe move will spark civil war





Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has called for fresh parliamentary
and presidential elections as soon as possible, amid rising tensions
between his Fatah party and Hamas.

During a major policy speech broadcast on Palestinian television
Saturday, Mr. Abbas said he has the right to dismiss the Hamas-led
government and that he does not believe the move will spark a civil
war.

Hamas officials have rejected the call for early elections, calling
such a move a coup attempt.

Mr. Abbas also said there must be a political agreement to ease
friction between the rival factions, which have engaged in recent
violent street battles.

Tensions have been rising since Thursday, when unidentified gunmen
opened fire on a convoy carrying Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh. The
prime minister's son was among 20 people wounded in the gunfire that
Hamas called an assassination attempt by Fatah.

President Abbas strongly denied the allegation. He blamed Hamas
officials for the Palestinian economic crisis, saying their refusal to
renounce violence led to Western sanctions and internal political
deadlock.

Fatah and Hamas are locked in a power struggle. Hamas won legislative
elections in January. Fatah still controls the presidency.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.