RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) - Hamas accused Abbas of trying to topple its government, promised to block the elections and urged supporters to take to the streets. ``This is a real coup,'' said Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar, a Hamas hard-liner.
A coup is generally done with tanks.
Later Saturday, in Gaza, thousands of Hamas supporters marched in protest and 18 Palestinians were wounded in
``We have a crisis. We have an authority with two heads. So what do we do? Bullets or ballots?'' asked Saeb Erekat, an aide to Abbas. ``Abu Mazen said ballots,'' he said.
Across the West Bank and Gaza, streets were largely deserted as everyone watched Abbas' 90-minute address, peppered with criticism of Hamas. ``I ... decided to call for early presidential and parliament elections,'' Abbas said from his West Bank headquarters, after outlining months of failed coalition talks. ``Let us return to the people, to hear their word, and let them be the judge.''
So long as they do what he wants them to do.
His aides said they expected the vote to be held by the summer. In coming days, Abbas is to meet with the Central Election Commission to hear how much time it will need to prepare. Once he issues a formal decree calling for elections, the balloting must take place within three months.
In an immediate step toward parliamentary and presidential elections, Abbas announced he has appointed new Fatah leaders. Fatah officials said the party's younger leaders, who had long clamored for a role in decision-making, would now be given a chance. Fatah's old guard had refused to step aside, a key reason the movement remained in disarray after its election defeat.