Fatah leaders in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip announced their resignation  on Wednesday, protesting the internal election results of the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's party.

Ahmed Nasser, a member of the higher committee of Fatah in Gaza, said he and his 10 colleagues have resigned because the internal elections which brought a new central committee for the movement were "unclear."

"Out votes have gone to other people and some candidates were elected twice," Nasser, who did not get elected, told Xinhua, referring to manipulation.

The elections of the highest decision-making body in Fatah took place Tuesday during Fatah's general convention which began last week in the West Bank city of Bethlehem.

Hamas security forces, which control Gaza, prevented some 400 Fatah members of the convention from traveling to Bethlehem. Nasser said Fatah's decision to go ahead with the conference despite the absence of the Gaza-based members affected the Gaza members' right of voting.

Only two new candidates from Gaza were elected to the 18-member central committee. "There are some people who controlled the movement and abducted it," Nasser said, refusing to reveal the names of the Fatah officials he accused.

Some of the Fatah delegates in Gaza were able to vote over the phone or via Email.

(Xinhua News Agency August 13, 2009)