Hamas intends to prevent the Gaza-based Fatah members from voting in their movement's internal elections by all means, an official with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's secular party said on Saturday.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the Hamas administration of Gaza had told him that Fatah members are not allowed to vote or run in the elections of a new central committee and revolutionary council for Fatah.

The first general conference in 20 years kicked off in the West Bank city of Bethlehem on Tuesday, comprising around 2,000 Fatah delegates. Hamas has prevented some 400 Fatah members from traveling to the West Bank to attend the conference.

"Hamas has openly told us that we are not allowed to run for the elections or vote," the official said, adding Hamas has passed its decision to Fatah members on Friday after summoning a number of Fatah leaders.

The official also said Hamas security services have confiscated laptops and mobiles of many Fatah members here.

The Hamas Interior Ministry has refused to comment on Fatah's claims.

Hamas has been controlling Gaza since it ousted Fatah and routed pro-Abbas forces in June 2007. Fatah holds sway in the West Bank. The two movements accuse each other of cracking down on their opponents in the two geographically-separated Palestinian territories.

(Xinhua News Agency August 9, 2009)