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Middle East
Palestinian local polls postponed
Palestinian prime minister announces indefinite delay for July 17 ballot.
Last Modified: 10 Jun 2010 16:37 GMT
Abbas hopes a delegation to Gaza will break the years-long Hamas-Fatah impasse [EPA]

The Palestinian Authority (PA) has indefinitely postponed local elections scheduled for July 17.

Sources in Palestinian prime minister Salam Fayad's office confirmed the delay to Al Jazeera, but did not provide any explanation.

Fayad announced the elections in April. Hamas, the Islamic movement which controls Gaza, immediately vowed to boycott the preparations, saying the ballot would "lack credibility and integrity."

The group barred the Palestinian election committee from working in Gaza.

PA officials moved ahead with planning, and Hamas last week announced a complete boycott of the polls.

The delay could be related to the ongoing attempt at reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah, which runs the government in the West Bank.

Munib al-Masri, a businessman in the West Bank, is preparing to lead a Fatah delegation to Gaza to meet with Hamas officials.

Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, hopes the delegation can break a years-long impasse between the two factions. Egypt has been mediating reconciliation talks between Hamas and Fatah.
Source:
Al Jazeera
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