Abbas calls for cooperation for Palestinian elections

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Wednesday urged the new unity government and the Central Elections Commission (CEC) to start preparing for the upcoming presidential and legislative elections.

Abbas, in a letter sent to Palestinian Prime Minister Rami al-Hamdallah, urged the government to cooperate and facilitate the missions of the CEC to prepare for the upcoming elections to be held after six months, Xinhua reported.

On April 23, rivals Hamas and Fatah agreed to end political differences and form a unity government which would prepare for general elections within six months.

The unity government was sworn-in Monday before Abbas in the West Bank city of Ramallah, ending seven years of political division that started when Hamas took over Gaza in June 2007.

"Nine years have gone since the last presidential elections, and eight years have passed since the legislative elections, the time has come to renew our legitimacy," Abbas said.

Abbas added that he is looking for democratic and fair elections as the Palestinians have always done in previous polls over the past 20 years.

"Holding the elections is a crucial step towards ending the split and starting a new era in Palestinian political life that is based on political pluralism," he said.