Military

DATE=12/25/2004

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=PALESTINIAN LOCAL ELECTIONS (S-O)

NUMBER=2-321333

BYLINE=SONJA PACE

DATELINE=JERUSALEM

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

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HEADLINE: Mainstream Palestinian Fatah Faction Leads in Local Elections But Islamic Hamas Makes Strong Showing

INTRO: Preliminary results from Thursday's Palestinian municipal elections (12-23-04) in the West Bank show the mainstream Fatah faction in the lead, but with the Islamic militant group Hamas making a strong showing. Initial tallies show Fatah winning in at least 11 towns with Hamas taking control of at least seven local councils. VOA's Sonja Pace reports from Jerusalem.

TEXT: At stake were 360 local council seats in 26 communities throughout the West Bank and with hundreds of candidates to choose from.

Public opinion surveys have consistently shown Fatah as the most popular Palestinian faction, but they have also shown considerable support for Hamas, especially in the Gaza Strip. Some analysts expressed surprise at the group's strong showing in what were supposed to be Fatah strongholds in the West Bank.

Thursday's vote was seen as a test run for the January 9th presidential elections where former Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas is considered the front-runner to succeed Yasser Arafat.

Hamas is boycotting the January ballot, but its strong showing in the municipal elections continue to make the group a force to be reckoned with. (SIGNED)

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