The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Tuesday launched in Gaza City the campaign for the Palestinian legislative elections due on Jan. 25.

Several Hamas leaders and members gathered in front of the house of late Hamas leader Sheikh Ahmed Yassin in Gaza City and formally announced the start of their campaign for the January elections.

In an address to supporters, Hamas leader Sheikh Ismael Haneya said the decision to announce the campaign here was to express loyalty to Yassin.

Yassin, founder and spiritual leader of Hamas, was assassinated in an Israeli rocket attack in 2002 when he was leaving a mosque near his home.

Haneya said participation in the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) is a step to reorganize the internal issues of the Palestinians.

"When Hamas enters the PLC, it will help in following up the economic and sociable services for the people," Haneya added. 

He also said that the Hamas campaign is focused on anti-corruption, exploiting widespread disillusionment among voters over the perceived incompetence of the current administration. 

No Palestinian faction or any person has the right to operate conflict with the enemy or the liberation project, stressed Haneya, adding that Hamas will always stay loyal to the Palestinian prisoners and the Palestinians right of return.

According to the election law, the campaign for all candidates that are running in the elections started as of midnight Jan. 3,and will continue till Jan. 24, one day ahead of the polls. 

However, if Israel prevents East Jerusalem residents from running and voting, the polls might be postponed.

While the election campaign began all over the Palestinian territories, East Jerusalem is still waiting for a positive answer from Israel to the Palestinian request to allow them to hold the elections in East Jerusalem.

Hamas has been a major driving force behind the five-year Palestinian uprising in the occupied territories. It showed strong street popularity during the latest rounds of local elections and will pose a severe challenge to the ruling Fatah movement led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

(Xinhua News Agency January 4, 2006)