The Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, says it would not take part in Palestinian presidential elections set for January.

While rejecting the presidential election, Hamas leaders told Mahmoud Abbas, the new head of the Palestine Liberation Organization, that they were in favor of parliamentary elections. The group also supports municipal elections.

Hamas could make a strong showing in either of those polls. Islamic Jihad, another Palestinian faction that has carried out many attacks against Israel, also said it wanted nothing to do with the presidential poll.

In a separate development, Israel's Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, indicated that if the new Palestinian leadership cracked down on violence, he would be willing to work with them on his plan to withdraw Israeli soldiers and settlers from the Gaza Strip.

Sharon has refused to deal with the later Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, and has insisted previously that Israel would leave Gaza unilaterally.

Source: CRI