Hamas claims Abbas launching coup

December 16th, 2006

Gaza City, Gaza - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas confirmed, in a speech today, that he will call for presidential and parliamentary elections to be held at the "earliest opportunity".

Hamas immediately rejected the move as a "coup attempt". Hours after Abbas spoke, armed supporters of Fatah and Hamas exchanged gunfire in the southern Gaza Strip.

Several gunmen are reported to have been injured in the clash in Khan Younis.

At the end of a major policy speech in Ramallah, Abbas said: "I decided ...to call for early presidential and parliament elections."

He blamed Hamas for the crisis triggered by the suspension of Western aid over the group's refusal to recognise Israel and renounce violence.

The Palestinian people were suffering from an economic siege, which had halved incomes, he said.

It is not clear when the elections would be held, and actually organising them is easier said than done, says the BBC's Nick Thorpe in Ramallah.

Many Palestinians say the president has no right to dissolve the government, while President Abbas insists that he does.

The current Palestinian parliament was elected in January and is due to remain in office until the end of 2010.