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Hamas denies Ismail Haniyeh elected as politburo chief

GAZA, April 24 (KUNA) -- Hamas Tuesday denied Israeli press reports that prime minister of the Palestinian government in Gaza Ismail Haniyeh has been elected as head of the movement's politburo in Gaza.
The government in Gaza and Hamas are separate entities, a movement official source said in a statement.
He denied a report by Israeli Haaretz newspaper that Haniyeh was elected as chairman of the politburo in Gaza to success Abdulaziz Al-Rantisi who was assassinated by Israel eight years ago.
Haaretz said Hamas had recent held secret elections to elect members of its politburo in Gaza. Haniyeh won the elections, it added.
The paper said 77 Hamas officials voted for Haniyeh.
Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mishal told the movement's shura council during a meeting in Khartoum, Sudan, three months ago that he did not wish to run for a third term. (end) mzt.bs KUNA 242155 Apr 12NNNN