GAZA, Jan. 8 (Xinhuanet) -- The Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) announced Saturday that Hamas observers will participate in overseeing the presidential election due on Jan. 9. 

   Hamas spokesman, Sami Abu Zuhri, told Xinhua that there will be dozens of Hamas observers who will participate in supervising the election. 

   Hamas has said that its leaders and members would boycott the election in terms of running and voting, but said that it will not force the Palestinian people not to vote. 

   About 21,000 local observers and nearly 800 foreign observers, including former US President Jimmy Carter, will supervise the election to ensure a fair voting process. 

   "Although Hamas calls on its members and leaders to boycott the election and not to vote for any of candidates, the Palestinian people are free to head for the polling stations," Abu Zuhri said. 

   He said Hamas will continue to struggle against an Israeli occupation, adding "Hamas faces two major problems, the first is the continuation of armed resistance and the second is reforms." 

   Abu Zuhri also said the Fatah's candidate Mahmoud Abbas had a mistaken beginning when he preferred to address Israel and the United States, instead of addressing the Palestinian people. 

   "It was better for Abbas to talk about a national conference that would gather all the Palestinian factions and organizations, instead of talking about a London conference," Abu Zuhri said. 

   "That's why all media are against Abbas' remarks that Qassam rockets are harmful to the Palestinians and useless," he said. Enditem