Abbas decides to call early elections

By KHALED ABU TOAMEH
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday said he would call early elections to end a political impasse with Hamas, but left the door open to a compromise with the Islamic militant group, PLO officials said. Abbas announced his decision at a meeting of the PLO's powerful executive committee, and plans a formal announcement in a nationwide speech later this week. "At the end of the speech, he is going to announce that he will resort to early presidential and legislative elections but will keep the door open" for forming a unity government with Hamas, said committee member Khalida Jarar. Unity talks between Hamas and Abbas' Fatah movement recently broke down.