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Hamas in Gaza elections warning Hamas in Gaza elections warning
(about 2 hours later)
The Islamist movement Hamas has told Palestinians in the Gaza Strip not to take part in elections called by Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.The Islamist movement Hamas has told Palestinians in the Gaza Strip not to take part in elections called by Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.
The Hamas interior ministry said elections planned for January had been called without the agreement of Hamas and other factions and were illegal. Hamas said the elections set for 24 January had been called without its agreement and were illegal.
It said anyone in Gaza co-operating with the poll will be "dealt with by the ministry or by other means". It said anyone in Gaza who co-operated with the poll would be "dealt with by the ministry or by other means".
Hamas drove Mr Abbas's Fatah party out of Gaza in 2007. Hamas drove Mr Abbas's Fatah party out of Gaza in 2007 and the two factions remain bitter rivals.
The two factions remain bitter rivals.
January's proposed parliamentary and presidential vote would mark the end of the four-year term of the Palestinian Legislative Council.January's proposed parliamentary and presidential vote would mark the end of the four-year term of the Palestinian Legislative Council.
Mr Abbas's presidential term expired earlier this year but he has continued in the absence of elections.Mr Abbas's presidential term expired earlier this year but he has continued in the absence of elections.
'Illegal action' 'Shadow boxing'
"The government in the Gaza Strip rejects the principle of holding elections in the Gaza Strip because it comes without an agreement and was announced by a president whose presidency has ended its term," said the interior ministry statement. "The government in the Gaza Strip rejects the principle of holding elections in the Gaza Strip because it comes without an agreement and was announced by a president whose presidency has ended its term," said the Hamas interior ministry statement.
Spokesman Ehab Al-Ghsain added: "Any preparations, any committees, any collecting of names will be regarded as an illegal action that we will pursue."
Hamas also said it would not permit the Central Election Commission (CEC) - which has five offices in Gaza - to operate in the enclave.Hamas also said it would not permit the Central Election Commission (CEC) - which has five offices in Gaza - to operate in the enclave.
The 2006 elections saw Hamas triumph over Fatah and the two groups formed a unity government. However, a subsequent power struggle led to the government's collapse and Hamas seized control of Gaza. The 2006 elections saw Hamas triumph over Fatah and the two groups formed a unity government. However, a subsequent power struggle led to the government's collapse.
Fatah still dominates Palestinian political life in the West Bank. Hamas seized control of Gaza, while Fatah still dominates Palestinian political life in the West Bank.
Egypt has recently tried to broker a unity deal between the two factions. Egypt has recently tried to broker a unity deal between the two factions, but Hamas has so far refused to sign up to the plans.
Hamas has so far refused to sign up to Egyptian plans accepted by Fatah, though Hamas officials have denied stalling an agreement. The most recent opinion polls suggest that support for Hamas has sagged badly, the BBC's Tim Franks reports from Jerusalem.
Our correspondent says this latest spat over the election date could be shadow boxing but, at the least, it shines a light on the depth of dislike between the two main Palestinian factions.