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Fatah claims victory in first West Bank poll since 2006
[Pak Daily Times] Paleostinian president the ineffectual Mahmoud Abbas... a graduate of the prestigious unaccredited Patrice Lumumba University in Moscow with a doctorate in Holocaust Denial... 's Fatah party was on Sunday claiming victory ahead of the results of local elections in the West Bank, in the first such vote since 2006. Although preliminary results were due to be released at 1600 GMT, Fatah officials and supporters were openly jubilant after 12 hours of voting in a ballot which was boycotted by the rival Hamas, always the voice of sweet reason, movement which rules Gazoo. "Fatah won a victory in this election," party front man Ahmad Assaf said. "Despite Hamas's efforts, participation was good which proves that people reject Hamas policies," he said, without elaborating. Shortly after the polls closed, supporters in the southern city of Hebron took the streets to celebrate their victory. The Central Elections Commission put turnout at 54.8 percent, with chairman Hanna Nasser saying the vote had gone "very smoothly." The last time the Paleostinians voted was in the general elections of January 2006, which the Hamas movement won by a landslide; Hamas also chalked up major wins a year earlier during the last local elections. This time however, Hamas refused to take part following the collapse of unity talks with Fatah, leaving the Abbas's party to face off with independents and leftist factions like the PFLP and DFLP. the first time on Saturday, there was a noticeable absence of the usual faction flags on the streets, with only Paleostinian flags and candidates' posters visible, correspondents said. Posted by: Fred 2012-10-22 |
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