Abbas warns Hamas he can remove government
(AP)
Updated: 2006-04-24 21:29
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said in an interview broadcast Monday
that he has the authority to remove the newly elected Hamas government from
power, and he warned the government it had little choice but to negotiate with
Israel.
Palestinian policemen march to show support
with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank town of Jenin
Sunday April 23, 2006 after Hamas' political chief, Khaled Mashaal,
accused Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of treachery on Saturday.
[AP] | "The constitution gives me clear and
definite authority to remove a government from power, but I don't want to use
this authority. Everyone should know that by law this power is in my hands,"
Abbas said in an interview with CNN-Turk that was recorded before he arrived in
Turkey on Sunday.
Asked about the possibility of Abbas bringing down the Hamas government, a
senior Hamas official in the West Bank said the group would "not leave in
silence" and threatened to stop recognizing a truce with Israel.
"We will go, but we will not recognize the Palestinian political regime. We
will not participate in any new election and we will go underground as we did
before and we will not adhere to any commitments, any truce, by anyone. Being
ousted from power will have a heavy price for everyone. We hope not to reach
that."
The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to
discuss the matter with the media.
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