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| Hamas to boycott early elections | Hamas to boycott early elections |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The governing Palestinian movement Hamas has said it will boycott early elections called by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. | The governing Palestinian movement Hamas has said it will boycott early elections called by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. |
| Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal said Mr Abbas' action was illegal. | Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal said Mr Abbas' action was illegal. |
| Tony Blair, who is in the region, has backed the poll call. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said "everything should be done" to support Mr Abbas. | Tony Blair, who is in the region, has backed the poll call. Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said "everything should be done" to support Mr Abbas. |
| A member of Mr Abbas' Fatah movement has been shot dead, putting pressure on a day-old truce with its rival Hamas. | A member of Mr Abbas' Fatah movement has been shot dead, putting pressure on a day-old truce with its rival Hamas. |
| Fatah members blamed the attack in Jabaliya refugee camp, northern Gaza - which also injured at least three people - on gunmen from Hamas. | Fatah members blamed the attack in Jabaliya refugee camp, northern Gaza - which also injured at least three people - on gunmen from Hamas. |
| WEEK OF TENSIONS 9 Dec - Mr Abbas' suggestion of early polls is backed by PLO leaders; Hamas denounces the idea10 Dec - Gunmen fire on the convoy of the Hamas interior minister11 Dec - Three sons of a Fatah security chief are shot on their way to school; both Fatah and Hamas condemn the killings14 Dec - Hamas PM Ismail Haniya's convoy comes under fire as he returns from Egypt, killing a bodyguard15 Dec - Hamas accuses key Fatah figure Mohammad Dahlan of being behind the attack on Mr Haniya, a charge he rejects16 Dec - Mr Abbas announces he will call early elections; Hamas calls the move a "coup"17 Dec - A truce is called following street battles between Hamas and Fatah supporters in Gaza, in which three people die Q&A: Palestinian crisis | WEEK OF TENSIONS 9 Dec - Mr Abbas' suggestion of early polls is backed by PLO leaders; Hamas denounces the idea10 Dec - Gunmen fire on the convoy of the Hamas interior minister11 Dec - Three sons of a Fatah security chief are shot on their way to school; both Fatah and Hamas condemn the killings14 Dec - Hamas PM Ismail Haniya's convoy comes under fire as he returns from Egypt, killing a bodyguard15 Dec - Hamas accuses key Fatah figure Mohammad Dahlan of being behind the attack on Mr Haniya, a charge he rejects16 Dec - Mr Abbas announces he will call early elections; Hamas calls the move a "coup"17 Dec - A truce is called following street battles between Hamas and Fatah supporters in Gaza, in which three people die Q&A: Palestinian crisis |
| Meanwhile, Hamas' Prime Minister Ismail Haniya called on Mr Abbas to withdraw his security forces from Gaza's streets, saying their deployment endangered the truce, Reuters news agency reports. | Meanwhile, Hamas' Prime Minister Ismail Haniya called on Mr Abbas to withdraw his security forces from Gaza's streets, saying their deployment endangered the truce, Reuters news agency reports. |
| Fighting between the two factions has paralysed the administration. | Fighting between the two factions has paralysed the administration. |
| Mr Abbas' call for early elections on Saturday was labelled a "coup" by Hamas, which won a sweeping victory in parliamentary elections in January and controls the government. | Mr Abbas' call for early elections on Saturday was labelled a "coup" by Hamas, which won a sweeping victory in parliamentary elections in January and controls the government. |
| The Palestinians have faced an international aid boycott since because of Hamas' refusal to renounce violence or recognise Israel. | The Palestinians have faced an international aid boycott since because of Hamas' refusal to renounce violence or recognise Israel. |
| Mr Abbas said he had called for early presidential and legislative elections to relieve "the current impasse". | Mr Abbas said he had called for early presidential and legislative elections to relieve "the current impasse". |
| "I felt it was essential to allow the people to have their say on a platform that achieves Palestinian national interests," Mr Abbas said. | "I felt it was essential to allow the people to have their say on a platform that achieves Palestinian national interests," Mr Abbas said. |
| Gaza residents on the violence and prospects of a new electionIn pictures | Gaza residents on the violence and prospects of a new electionIn pictures |
| But Mr Meshaal - who is based in Damascus - told the BBC that the president's actions were illegal. | But Mr Meshaal - who is based in Damascus - told the BBC that the president's actions were illegal. |
| "We stand against any step that is against the law and against the constitution," Mr Meshaal said. | "We stand against any step that is against the law and against the constitution," Mr Meshaal said. |
| "What's needed to address the inter-Palestinian crisis is national agreement, not actions by individuals, especially taken in response to foreign pressure." | "What's needed to address the inter-Palestinian crisis is national agreement, not actions by individuals, especially taken in response to foreign pressure." |
| There have been a series of clashes between members of Hamas and Fatah in recent days. On Sunday a ceasefire was reported, but outbreaks of violence continued through the night and into Monday. | There have been a series of clashes between members of Hamas and Fatah in recent days. On Sunday a ceasefire was reported, but outbreaks of violence continued through the night and into Monday. |
| Mr Meshaal said Hamas would take practical steps to stop early elections taking place but denied his party had been responsible for the clashes. | Mr Meshaal said Hamas would take practical steps to stop early elections taking place but denied his party had been responsible for the clashes. |
| "We shall oppose those steps that are against the law with peaceful, popular pressure - not with violence." | "We shall oppose those steps that are against the law with peaceful, popular pressure - not with violence." |
| 'Suffering people' | 'Suffering people' |
| In talks in Ramallah on Monday, Mr Abbas urged Mr Blair, the British prime minister, to lift an aid freeze on the Palestinians and said he was ready to hold "serious" talks with Israeli PM Ehud Olmert. | In talks in Ramallah on Monday, Mr Abbas urged Mr Blair, the British prime minister, to lift an aid freeze on the Palestinians and said he was ready to hold "serious" talks with Israeli PM Ehud Olmert. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Like it or not Hamas were democratically elected. Blair's encouragement of what is effectively a coup is disturbing Ali, Birmingham, UK Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAY Like it or not Hamas were democratically elected. Blair's encouragement of what is effectively a coup is disturbing Ali, Birmingham, UK Send us your comments |
| Mr Blair praised Mr Abbas and urged the international community to back a new push towards peace in the region. | Mr Blair praised Mr Abbas and urged the international community to back a new push towards peace in the region. |
| "Your people are suffering," Mr Blair told Abbas. "We don't want anything to stand in the way of helping the Palestinian people." | "Your people are suffering," Mr Blair told Abbas. "We don't want anything to stand in the way of helping the Palestinian people." |
| Mr Blair also told the Palestinian leader he backed his efforts to revive the peace process. | Mr Blair also told the Palestinian leader he backed his efforts to revive the peace process. |
| "Nobody should have a veto on progress," the prime minister said. | "Nobody should have a veto on progress," the prime minister said. |
| Lord Levy, Mr Blair's special envoy to the Middle East, has joined the prime minister on this latest leg of the tour and is thought to have held preparatory talks with Israeli officials. | Lord Levy, Mr Blair's special envoy to the Middle East, has joined the prime minister on this latest leg of the tour and is thought to have held preparatory talks with Israeli officials. |
| Speaking at a later news conference with Mr Blair, Prime Minister Olmert said "everything should be done" to support Mr Abbas. | |
| He said he hoped to meet the Palestinian president "very soon". |