PA government: Abbas' decision unconstitutional

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas announces early elections

December 16, 2006

Gaza - The PA government on Saturday refused PA chief Mahmoud Abbas' call for holding early parliamentary elections, describing such as a decision as a coup against the Hamas-led government and the people's democratic choice and "unconstitutional".

The government in a press release said that it was preparing a detailed response to all points mentioned in Abbas' speech and would explain its position to the Palestinian people.

Abbas lashed out at the PA government and the Hamas Movement and defended his associates who were charged by Hamas of involvement in the attempt to assassinate PA premier Ismail Haneyya on Thursday evening on his return from a tour abroad, his first ever since he assumed office almost nine months ago.