Abbas decides not to run in election

Palestinians have expressed disappointment over President Mahmoud Abbas's decision not to run in January's presidential election. Abbas blamed the stalemate in peace talks.

Many Palestinians across the West Bank and Gaza expressed disappointment with Abbas' announcement on Friday.

Hundreds of people marched in the streets of Ramallah in a show of support for the leader's future moves.

Nazeer Quffa, Gaza resident, said, "I wish he would go back on his decision, because we are in a very difficult situation and the Palestinian people are going through a critical period."

There is speculation that Abbas' decision will not be final and could instead be a tactic for pushing Israel and the US toward a larger compromise.

But the Palestinian chief negotiator denied this.

Saeb Erekat, Palestinian Chief Negotiator, said, "I think President Abbas is not maneuvering, is not bargaining. I think it's a rare moment in our Arab history where a leader will stand up and say to his people that I have devoted my life to peace, to a two state solution."

Meanwhile, the Hamas movement, bitter rival of Abbas' Fatah party, said running or withdrawing from the elections was an internal affair of Abbas' own Fatah party.

Mushir Al-Masri, Senior Hamas Official, said, "I feel that Mr.Abbas's departure from his position could create a real opportunity for advancement of the Palestinian cause and the unification of this nation. But either way this was a Fatah decision and I feel that it confirms the depths of the crisis within the ranks of Fatah and within the peace process."

The election decree was issued in late October after Hamas rejected an Egyptian proposal to settle the Palestinian internal crisis.

However, Hamas has also rejected the elections and warned Gazans not to deal with Abbas' call for polls, threatening to thwart the voting altogether.