A spokesman of the Fatah movement strongly condemned on Thursday a statement by a senior Hamas leader, which accused Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of being involved in isolating the Hamas-led government.

Fatah spokesman Ahmed Abdel Rahman told reporters that the statement by Hamas politburo member Mohammed Nazal "did not serve the national interest."

On Wednesday, Nazal waged a war of words, accusing Abbas and his Fatah party of stripping Hamas of its power.

The Fatah spokesman said that the current crisis was due to Hamas' inability to adjust its policy and accommodate to the reality.

Abdel Rahman voiced fears that the continuing accusations by Hamas leaders would create a crisis that can only be solved by referring back to the people to decide.

"If we couldn't agree on a national-rescue government, then we would ask the people through a referendum if they support early elections or not," said Abdel Rahman.

Hamas, which defeated the long-dominant Fatah led by Abbas in the Jan. 25 Palestinian legislative elections, has been facing a severe financial siege after it took power in March.

Radical Hamas-led government has been at odds with Abbas in an earlier dispute over the formation of a new security branch by the Hamas interior ministry.

Abbas vetoed the decision in April, which was seen as part of the power struggle over the control of security forces.

Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haneya is expected to meet Abbas later this week over a proposal to hold a national dialogue in mid- May among all political factions in a bid to solve the current situation.

Source: Xinhua