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Hamas apparent winner in Palestinian vote: Fatah official

Posted on: Thursday, 26 January 2006, 03:00 CST

RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Hamas has apparently won the Palestinian parliamentary election, a senior official of President Mahmoud Abbas's long-dominant Fatah faction said on Thursday.

A Hamas victory, if confirmed by official results, would put it in position to dominate a new Palestinian cabinet, which would dramatically shake up the Palestinian Authority and likely put peacemaking with Israel in a deep freeze.

"It seems that Hamas will form the next government," said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, after a Hamas leader claimed victory in Wednesday's vote. Fatah and Hamas had both said earlier that a coalition government was possible.

There was no confirmation from the Palestinian electoral commission, which said official results were expected to emerge later on Thursday.

Exit polls had forecast a narrow win by Fatah and a strong second-place showing by Hamas, a group committed to Israel's destruction.

Earlier Ismail Haniyeh, a Hamas leader in the Gaza Strip, said the group had won more than 70 seats in the 132-member parliament. He said he based the numbers on initial ballot counts from Hamas representatives at polling stations.

The United States and Israel say the group cannot be a negotiating partner until it changes that policy.

Source: REUTERS

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