GAZA, Aug. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- Mahmoud al Zahar, a senior member of Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), asserted Thursday that the movement will participate in next local and legislative elections.

    "Hamas' participation is conditioned that the elections should be fair," said Al Zahar in an interview with the Palestinian daily of al Quds published in east Jerusalem.

    He added that Hamas will not just wait for holding the elections, "on the contrary, it will try its best to take the first step to achieve the elections."

    "I believed that holding elections should be a popular determination, so if some sides opposed it, we will turn it into apopular request in the suitable time," said al Zahar.

    He added that the current chaos in the Palestinian society is due to the conflicts in the security apparatuses, asserting thatthe reform are a popular demand "except for those who gain benefits out of corruption."

    He denied that there is any tension in the relationships between Egypt and Hamas, saying "if there are disagreements, it is superficial." Enditem