Hamas disputes Fatah's lead in voting

RAMALLAH, West Bank -- President Mahmoud Abbas's ruling Fatah movement led in Palestinian municipal elections yesterday despite a strong showing by Hamas Islamic militants, preliminary results showed.

But the militant Islamic group disputed the figures and said it was not ready to concede defeat.

A win would be a major boost for Fatah, which had seen its popularity slip amid corruption allegations while support for Hamas was on the rise. It would also reassure Fatah ahead of a parliamentary vote due in July.

A Palestinian election official said preliminary results showed Fatah winning roughly 60 percent of 84 councils across the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with Hamas winning 30 percent. He did not say what percentage of votes had been counted.

''All the information being spread is false. Our observers in the municipal councils where Hamas is participating say that our movement is making very good progress," Hamas West Bank leader Hassan Youssef said. He also complained of balloting violations.

The election comes against the backdrop of a fragile cease-fire with Israel engineered by Abbas that has raised hopes of reviving Middle East peacemaking following 4Æ years of a Palestinian uprising.

Fatah supporters fired guns into the air in Gaza's border town of Rafah to celebrate the preliminary results, which are seen as a sign of confidence in political and security reforms by Abbas.

''The preliminary results assure the Palestinian people that Fatah continues to be the strongest and the most influential faction," said Jibril Rajoub, a security adviser to Abbas. Hamas, which boycotted previous polls, posed an electoral challenge to Fatah after gaining street credibility for its fight against Israel, religious piety, and charitable services.

Fatah feared it could get hammered by Hamas in upcoming parliamentary polls, which a senior official said could be delayed by disputes over election law changes some feel may aid Hamas.

The election had a festive air as the parties erected tents and greeted arriving voters, but the mood deteriorated after polls closed with supporters of both sides claiming victory.

About 20 masked men stormed two polling stations in the West Bank village of Attarah and destroyed three ballot boxes as votes were being tallied, an election official said.

Gaza militants fired two rockets into southern Israel shortly after exit polls predicted a Fatah victory, and medics said one struck a building, causing no injuries.

Also yesterday, the Israeli army suspended an officer who killed two Palestinian teenagers in a clash with stone-throwers in the West Bank on Wednesday, saying he acted improperly.

Material from the Chicago Tribune was included in this report.