Hamas: Abbas no longer president

GAZA, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- Hamas leaders say Mahmoud Abbas is no longer the president of the Palestinian Authority since his term expired Friday.
Abbas argues that he has the right to remain in office for another year because the law says presidential and parliamentary elections should be held at the same time, the Jerusalem Post reported. Parliamentary elections are set for January 2010.

Hamas officials said they do not expect Abbas to step down while the war continues in Gaza. But they also deny his legitimacy.

"Thursday was Abbas's last day in office," said Osama Hamdan, who represents Hamas in Lebanon. "Our position on this issue is clear: Abbas's term in office has expired."

Mushir al-Masri, a spokesman for the party in Gaza, agreed.

"He doesn't have the right to speak on behalf of the people," Masri said. "He's in power only because the Israelis and the Americans want him to stay."

Gaza – Ma’an – Hamas warned that after Friday it will no longer recognize Mahmoud Abbas as Palestinian president, but said its top priority is countering the Israeli onslaught in Gaza.

A senior official in Hamas’ political wing, Musa Abu Marzouq, said in an interview on Sawt Al-Aqsa radio in Gaza that Abbas’ rule will no longer be legal under Palestinian law.

“The president’s term ends today (Friday). (Because) we are living under exceptional circumstances, Hamas should set up other proriorties ,it has to put all internal differences aside to confront the offensive.”

He also said, “We are not interested in the resolutions of the UN Security Council, because the involved party in Gaza was not consulted. We are not interested in this decision but if it was implemented then the involved sides should coordinate with the sides in the field.”

Abbas and the PA have not yet commented on the issue on Friday.