Fatah stages large rally, show of strength in power struggle with Hamas

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) _ In a show of strength against Hamas, President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement staged a large rally Thursday, but Abbas aides said the moderate Palestinian leader would also

Thursday, January 11th 2007, 6:12 am

By: News On 6

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) _ In a show of strength against Hamas, President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement staged a large rally Thursday, but Abbas aides said the moderate Palestinian leader would also give coalition talks with the Islamic militant group another chance.

Thousands of Fatah supporters waving the movement's yellow flags streamed into Abbas' walled headquarters in the city of Ramallah. Many were bused from across the West Bank, with organizers hoping to mirror a Fatah rally that drew tens of thousands in the Gaza Strip last week.

Negotiations on bringing Fatah into the Hamas-led Cabinet are to resume soon and continue for two weeks, said Rafiq Husseini, a senior Abbas aide. If the talks fail, he said, Abbas would proceed with his plan to call early elections. Abbas insists the militant Hamas must soften its positions so the program of the new coalition will be accepted overseas and help end a 10-month international economic boycott.

The international community has demanded that Hamas, which calls for Israel's destruction, recognize the Jewish state's right to exist, renounce violence and accept past agreements with Israel. Hamas, which won parliamentary elections last year, has refused. Abbas was elected separately two years ago.

Hamas is going into the talks with a revised agenda, including a demand that the current prime minister, Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, remain in the job, said Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum. Previously, Haniyeh had agreed in principle to step down and let an independent be appointed in his place.

Hamas officials also said they are willing to give control over the Interior Ministry, which oversees the security forces, to an independent. In earlier rounds, Hamas had demanded continued control over the ministry.

Abbas' decision to resume talks with Hamas follows several weeks of Hamas-Fatah fighting that left 35 people dead, most in Gaza. It also followed angry exchanges between the two sides, with Hamas accusing Abbas of trying to overthrow the government with his call for new elections.

Despite the bloodshed and rancor, both sides appear to have little choice but to find a way to share power. Abbas would likely have trouble holding early elections over Hamas' objections. Hamas, meanwhile, is concerned it will lose popular support if the fighting continues.