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Palestinian leader hopeful of elections

JERUSALEM, April 9 (UPI) -- An Israeli withdrawal from the Gaza Strip could lead to long-delayed Palestinian elections, the Palestinian foreign minister says.

Nabil Shaath made his comments as Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon prepared to fly to Washington next week to seek support for his so-called disengagement plan, which includes withdrawal from Gaza.

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The Palestinian Authority has serious doubts about the plan, but appears to have decided to make the best of it, the BBC reported.

Shaath said he hopes the Islamic movement Hamas will take part if there is an election. It would be the first balloting since 1996 when Hamas boycotted the proceedings.

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