Jamal Shoubaki told reporters that the second phase would include 84 municipal councils for towns and cities, with 76 in the West Bank and eight in the Gaza Strip.

    The first phase of municipal elections were held in December and February in 36 municipal councils, 26 in the West Bank and 10 inthe Gaza Strip.

    The competition between the Fatah movement and Hamas has beentense since Hamas achieved an overwhelming victory in the firstphase.

    Fatah leaders expressed concerns over the increase of Hamas' support in municipal councils and they started to focus on improving characteristics of choosing its nominees to race against Hamas.

    "There were several obstacles and violations made by Israeli occupation forces during preparations for the second phase,"Shoubaki said, calling on the quartet committee -- the UnitedNations, the United States, Russia and the European Union, to interfere to stop these obstacles.

    He said that Israel is interfering in the elections by imposing measures on candidates.

    Shoubaki said that the number of those candidates running forthe second phase reached 2,519, with 2,192 in the West Bank and 327 in the Gaza Strip.

    The number of women candidates is 340 in the West Bank and 59 in the Gaza Strip, said Shoubaki, adding that there are 400,605 eligible voters, with 270,480 in the West Bank and 130,125 in the Gaza Strip.

    It has not been decided when the third and last phase of municipal elections would be held. Enditem