Abbas insists will hold elections, truce threatened
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RAMALLAH, West Bank  - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas vowed on Monday to press on with early elections as a truce between his security forces and the Hamas government began to unravel in the Gaza Strip.
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Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas,  frontrunner to succeed Yasser Arafat, said Wednesday that he  expected negotiations on Israel's plan to withdraw from the  Gaza Strip after Palestinian elections next month.
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JERICHO, West Bank  - Emergent Palestinian leader  Mahmoud Abbas drew cheers at his first election rally on  Tuesday by vowing to follow in Yasser Arafat's footsteps while  stressing he would seek a state via peace talks with Israel.
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In his bitter wrangling with Hamas over legitimacy, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is considering calling presidential and legislative elections to strengthen his position, a top aide said Thursday.
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Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on  Wednesday promised steps to halt the use of illegal arms to  stem chaos in Palestinian areas and ensure calm ahead of a Jan.  9 election to choose Yasser Arafat's successor.
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RAMALLAH, West Bank  - A gunbattle sparked by  militants confronting moderate interim Palestinian leader  Mahmoud Abbas on a visit to Gaza underscores the urgent need  for elections to replace Yasser Arafat, Palestinian officials  said.
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RAMALLAH, West Bank  - President Mahmoud Abbas called on Saturday for Palestinian elections, throwing down the gauntlet to his Hamas rivals after days of factional violence that have sparked fears of civil war.
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Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas on  Wednesday vowed a crackdown on armed groups operating in  Palestinian areas in order to smooth the way to a Jan. 9  election for a successor to Yasser Arafat.
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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas  traveled to the Gaza Strip on Friday for talks with militants  after fighters bombarded Jewish settlements and threatened his  truce with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.
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RAMALLAH, West Bank  - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas may call early elections on Saturday in a much anticipated speech after violence between his Fatah group and the ruling Hamas movement stirred fears of civil war.
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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' decision to call early presidential and parliament elections is fraught with legal and political difficulties. Independent experts have said he is on shaky legal ground, and the ruling Hamas Party says it will challenge him every step of the way.
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President Abbas called Saturday for early elections. Hamas says it won't participate.
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RAMALLAH, West Bank  - Victory by Mahmoud Abbas,  an advocate of non-violence, in Palestinian presidential  elections stirred hopes Monday he could pursue peacemaking  Israel said must start with a crackdown on militants.
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RAMALLAH, West Bank  - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas vowed on Monday to press on with early elections as a truce between his security forces and the Hamas government appeared close to collapse in the Gaza Strip.
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Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Thursday that militant groups promised to suspend attacks on Israel in hopes of ending a nearly 2-month-long Israeli crackdown in the Gaza Strip.
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RAMALLAH, West Bank  - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Wednesday he would shortly issue decrees calling for new Palestinian parliamentary and presidential elections.
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RAMALLAH, West Bank  - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday called for fresh parliamentary and presidential elections at the earliest opportunity.