LOC21:55
18:55 GMT
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)
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