Fatah: Ready for elections, proud of achievements

The Fatah movement said Monday that it is ready to participate in presidential and parliamentary elections in May 2012. Fatah spokesman Osama al-Qawasmi said the movement is proud of its national and political achievements and the sacrifices it has made to protect Palestinian unity. “We believe that our people’s awareness will be the decider, we don’t deal with illusions and we don’t cite for fake slogans. We participated in building the institutions of the Palestinian state,” al-Qawasmi said. The Palestinian people have learnt from past experiences and can distinguish between political parties working for the people and those working only to benefit their faction, he added. After meeting Hamas chief Khalid Mashaal for reconciliation talks in Cairo last month, Fatah leader and President Mahmoud Abbas said he "hoped" elections would be held in May 2012. Senior Hamas leader Mahmoud Zahhar said Sunday that his movement would win a sweeping victory in any upcoming legislative elections.