The Palestinian electoral committee announced Monday that the final results of the second stage of the municipal elections would be delayed for another week, which cast more uncertainty over who will emerge winner in this show of strength. 

Chief of the highest local elections committee Jamal al Shoubaki told a news conference that the results would be announced after the committee looked into complaints of irregularities during the election process.

"The local elections committee would form a technical committee to study violations and breaches that happened during the voting process," Al Shoubaki said, adding "after that, it will be the court to decide."

A preelection poll showed Hamas, a leading Palestinian militant group, was poised to achieve an overwhelming victory in eight municipal councils in Gaza.

A total of 2,509 candidates ran for 906 council seats in 84 councils, 76 in the West Bank and eight in the Gaza Strip, in May 5 elections.

Unofficial results showed Fatah won control of about 50 of the 84 municipal councils, while Hamas won about 30.

This result showed Hamas posing a major challenge to the mainstream Fatah Movement led by Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, which has long been a dominating power in the Palestinian political landscape.

It also indicated that Hamas could do well in its first participation in parliamentary elections due on July 17 in Palestinian territories.

Hamas, whose street popularity has witnessed a surge as a major driving force behind an over four-year Palestinian uprising against Israel, outperformed Fatah in the first stage of local elections by winning 20 of the 36 councils being contested in Gaza and the West Bank in January.

Abdallah Abu Jarbou'a, a Palestinian analyst from central Gaza, said the postponement "would not end the disputes between Fatah and Hamas, and would keep the door open for more conflicts to mount between the two groups."

"I believe that the highest committee for local elections should hurry up in solving the disputes by making a clear declaration on who win the elections, Hamas or Fatah," said Abu Jarbou'a.

On May 6, Hamas leading figure Mahmoud al Zahar declared Hamas winner in the densely populated areas of Gaza.

This premature announcement drew stern criticism from Fatah. Abdallah al Ifranji, a senior Fatah official, labeled this move as provocative and misleading.

The official also accused Hamas of violating election law. International observers said the election was generally fair.

(Xinhua News Agency May 11, 2005)