JUST ANOTHER DEMOCRACY:

Hamas challenges Fatah in elections: Results will hint at outcome of planned parliamentary ballot (Daily Star staff, May 06, 2005)

Palestinians voted on Thursday in municipal elections likely to strengthen Hamas against President Mahmoud Abbas's troubled Fatah movement and hint at the outcome of a planned parliamentary ballot.

Exit polls by expert Khalil Shikaki said Fatah was leading in six of the first 14 West Bank locations he examined, while Hamas led in two. The rest were mixed.

In another development, Israel's military intelligence chief praised Abbas for his efforts to disarm militants, countering claims by the government which has frozen plans to transfer responsibility for security.

"There is determined activity on his part in terms of his aims and intentions," General Aharon Zeevi told public radio. "Abu Mazen (Abbas) has changed the people in his office, has limited incitement and made changes in the legal sphere."

Zeevi pointed out that Abbas had only recently reshuffled the leadership of his security services and argued that they should be allowed more time to change their approach.

Hamas appeared poised to gain new political ground on Thursday, though some said Fatah has learned its lessons and will fend off the challenge from the Islamic group.

The WoT went so well that elections in Arab countries aren't even news anymore.

Posted by Orrin Judd at May 5, 2005 9:06 PM