Prometheus 6

Damn shame.

Palestinian leader weighs options with after declaring coalition talks at 'dead end'
Posted 12/1/2006 9:00 AM ET

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas convened the PLO's top decision-making body on Friday to map out a strategy after declaring that talks to form a more moderate government with ruling Hamas militants had collapsed.

Abbas has two options, both problematic for him — fire the Hamas-led government or hold a national referendum on whether to call early elections.

Recent polls have shown that Abbas' Fatah Party would not have enough support to oust the militantly anti-Israel Hamas in new balloting. But if he dismisses the Hamas Cabinet, the Hamas-dominated parliament would veto any new government he appoints, leading to a constitutional crisis that could force elections.