Official results will not be finalized until after an investigation of voting irregularities in a week’s time. (Reuters)

RAMALLAH, West Bank, May 9, 2005 (IslamOnline.net & News Agencies) – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's ruling Fatah party came out ahead in municipal elections, but the Islamic resistance movement Hamas took key urban centers in a show of strength, official results showed Monday, May 9.

Election officials said Fatah captured about 50 of 84 municipal councils in the West Bank and Gaza Strip while Hamas won around 30, including the Gaza border city of Rafah and the West Bank town of Qalqilya, according to Reuters.

The official results, which will not be finalized until after an investigation of voting irregularities in some areas, showed Hamas gaining control of six more councils than in an earlier unofficial tally.

The strong performance by Hamas, the biggest resistance faction, suggests the group could mount a serious challenge to long-dominant Fatah in a parliamentary election set for this summer.

Hamas has scored a resounding victory in the first stage of the municipal local elections in Gaza Strip, held last January, securing 65% of the ballot, translated into 77 out of the 110 seats up for grasp.

Fair

“We respect the results and we are urging all parties to do the same and not to resort to arms,” Abu Zuhri said.

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said the results “proved the election was fair”.

“We respect the results and we are urging all parties to do the same and not to resort to arms and not to storm election registration centers.”

Both Hamas and Fatah have disputed the preliminary count, and protesting gunmen from Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, Fatah military wing, on Sunday briefly shut Gaza offices registering voters for the parliamentary vote.

They were furious over what they called “fraudulent results” showing urban victories by Hamas, which they accused of stuffing ballot boxes.

But Hamas denied the charge and foreign observers said the vote was generally fair.

Hamas electoral successes could lead to a radical change of the Palestinian political scene after a long era of Fatah dominancy.

Fatah, which has dominated Palestinian politics for the past five decades, has been damaged by corruption charges while Hamas has gained credibility from its resistance to the Israeli occupation, religious piety and charitable work, filling gaps left by the sagging Fatah-run Palestinian Authority.

The next electoral battle between the two factions comes on July 17 when Hamas is set to stand for parliamentary election for the first time.

Observers believe the municipal polls will be highly indicative of what July general polls may yield.