Abbas: I did not threaten to quit

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas said on Tuesday that he did not intend to resign from his post even if Hamas did not change its policies towards Israel. "Reports in the media are untrue," said the PA chairman, "I never intended to quit." His denial came following British media reports claimed that Abbas threatened to quit if Hamas did not submit to international pressure to recognize Israel. Abbas called on Israel and the international community not to push Hamas into a corner and to give the movement time to moderate its stance.