Abbas Issues Ultimatum to Hamas on Elections, Reconciliation

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas told the Turkish Anadolu news agency that attempts to move forward with the May 2011 reconciliation agreement between Fatah and Hamas is deadlocked. Abbas said there will be no progress without elections in both the West Bank and Gaza Strip, imposing a two-week deadline for Hamas to agree. Insisting again that he will not stand for re-election to the presidency, Abbas set West Bank elections for October 20. Hamas argues that Abbas is illegally staying-on as president after the expiration of his term. Fatah argues that elections have not been possible because Hamas, which controls Gaza, has prevented the election commission from registering voters and preparing for elections.