Hamas: We will not participate in new elections

By JERUSALEM POST STAFF
Hamas will not participate in early elections, Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas said Sunday, in a harsh verbal attack on President Mahmoud Abbas. Haniyeh denounced Abbas' speech, in which he called for a new vote, "inflammatory." "We confirm that the Palestinian government refuses the invitation to early elections because it is unconstitutuional and could cause tension among Palestinians," Haniyeh said in his first public comments following Abbas' announcement Saturday the would seek early presidential and parliament elections.