Fatah accepts postponing Palestinian elections

The Palestinian Fatah faction says it would postpone presidential and parliamentary elections in an effort to put an end to the current rift with the rival Hamas.

Mahmoud Abbas' faction said in a statement Monday that it had accepted an Egyptian proposal to delay the January 2010 elections, Reuters reported.

"We have decided to accept the Egyptian proposal, including holding the elections during the first half of next year and no later than this date," said Abbas Zaki, a member of Fatah's Central Committee, the group's executive body.

Fatah officials said that Hamas had told Fatah during past round of talks that it prefers an extended delay in holding elections.

Nabil Shaath, another Fatah official, said that the group did not mind a delay but "there should be a specific date and not to leave the matter open as if we do then it could be postponed again."

Hamas however said it would state its position regarding the proposal after the Muslim holiday of Eid Al-Fitr, marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, due next week.

Abbas had formerly said that he would hold the elections on time with or without a deal with his Hamas rivals.

Egypt, who is mediating between the two rival groups, proposed last week to hold the elections during the first half of 2010 in an effort to allow more time for working out a power-sharing deal between the two camps.

The proposal also stipulates that the two rival groups free the political activists of the other faction after a deal is reached.