Hamas scores successes in Palestinian vote

Hamas militants defeated the mainstream Palestinian movement Fatah in nine of 26 local elections, results showed yesterday, in a foretaste of challenges confronting emerging moderate leader Mahmoud Abbas.

Hamas's standing in polls about national leadership has declined since Yasser Arafat's death amid growing weariness with violence and a drive by the US-favoured Abbas to revive peace talks aimed at Palestinian statehood on Israeli-occupied land.

But Hamas's solid performance in its first foray into electoral politics, and the first Palestinian grassroots vote since 1976, signalled discontent with corruption and chaos in Fatah that Abbas must overcome to establish his authority.

He received boosts when 560 prominent Palestinians called in front-page newspaper adverts for an end to violence while Israel approved plans to pull back forces to help Palestinians vote in a January 9 presidential election he is widely expected to win.

"The election is of supreme importance in establishing a (Palestinian) leadership with which we hope to move forward on the road map," Israel Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said, citing an international peace plan stymied by persistent violence.

In another gesture to Mr Abbas, Israel said it would free today 113 of more than 7,000 Palestinians jailed as suspected militants. Mr Abbas has made prisoner releases part of his campaign platform to encourage militants to lay down their arms.

A tally announced by the Palestinian Authority's Supreme Council for Local Elections showed Hamas scored victories in nine West Bank council races on Thursday against 16 for Fatah.

Fatah won by narrow margins in two districts while the rivals tied for control of one municipality.

Voting in scores more municipalities along with elections for the Palestinian legislature is to follow next year.

The successes of Hamas, a faction dedicated to Israel's destruction, in the first Palestinian ballot since militants launched a revolt in 2000 were likely to send Mr Abbas a message of Islamist clout at the local level.

Analysts attributed the results, and a 90 per cent turnout, to dismay with corruption among long-entrenched Fatah incumbents and Hamas's skill in aiding people cut adrift by a breakdown in Fatah-run public services accelerated by fighting with Israel.