The radical Hamas group announced on Wednesday that it would boycott the presidential election due on Jan. 9, 2005.

Speaking to reporters, senior Hamas leader Isma'eel Haneya said that his movement made a decision to boycott the election.

He also called for holding together the presidential election, legislative election and local election.

"Hamas declares its boycott and not to participate in the presidential election," he said, adding that such a decision was based on the Palestinian popular demand to hold comprehensive elections.

Asked about whether Hamas intends to temporarily stop its military actions against Israel, he said, "The problem is not with Palestinian resistance. The problem is with continuous Zionist aggression."

Asked about if Hamas fears that it might not win the election, he said that comprehensive elections would determine the power of each faction.