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Abbas calls for public calm to ensure municipal elections

Xinhua, August 6, 2016 Adjust font size:

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday called on the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza to ensure calm for holding the municipal elections in the Palestinian territories on October, local media said.

According to the Palestinian official news agency WAFA, Abbas was quoted as saying in a meeting with Palestinian provincial governors in Ramallah that calm enables people to vote freely without any troubles.

"The aim of the elections is to elect leaders that are able to serve the Palestinian citizens," Abbas told the governor, according to (WAFA) report.

Earlier, Abbas aide Nabil Abu Rdineh said in an official statement that it is necessary to ensure calm and stability and create better atmospheres for holding free and transparent elections, mainly in the Gaza Strip.

The Palestinian official called on the Palestinians to participate in the municipal elections to be held in the Palestinian territories in October.

Last municipal elections were held in the West Bank and Gaza in 2005.

Hamas violent takeover of the Gaza Strip in 2007 had prevented the Palestinian parties to hold elections in the Palestinian territories due to a severe internal Palestinian split between the West Bank and Gaza.

Hamas movement announced that it will participate in the municipal elections. Endit