Hamas election campaign to focus on clean government promise
Militant group unveils new platform, will refrain from staging military-style rallies with gunmen and weapons.
By The Associated PressGAZA CITY - The Palestinian militant group Hamas unveiled its campaign platform Monday, saying it would promise voters clean government and reforms and plans to refrain from staging military-style rallies with gunmen and weapons.
Hamas poses a strong challenge to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' corruption-tainted Fatah movement in the Jan. 25 election for parliament.
Hamas said it has not dropped the option of what it calls armed struggle against Israel, but a statement by the group suggested the issue would not play a prominent role in the campaign.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri also said the group has not yet decided whether to join a future Palestinian government, but is ready to cooperate with the international community. Hamas, which has carried out dozens of attacks on Israel since 1987, is branded by many countries as a terrorist organization.
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Senior Hamas leaders talking to the media Sunday after they signed up for next month's Palestinian legislative election. (Reuters) |
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