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Vote registration suspended in Gaza as Hamas accuses Fatah of planning fraud on West Bank


BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Hamas leader Mahmud Zahhar on Monday defended his party's decision to suspend voter registration in the Gaza Strip, accusing Fatah of planning electoral fraud.

Zahhar told Voice of Palestine radio that Fatah planned to commit election fraud, adding that the Central Elections Commission was dominated by Fatah members, effectively allowing the party to supervise the electoral process.

The CEC was due to start registering voters in Gaza on Tuesday but Hamas suspended its work on Monday.

Zahhar also said there had been an increase in summons and arrests of Hamas members in the Fatah-run West Bank and that security forces of the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority were preventing Hamas meetings.

Hamas must be allowed to operate freely in the West Bank, Zahhar said. more

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