GAZA/RAMALLAH, May 5 (Xinhuanet) -- The Palestinian Central Municipal Elections Committee called Thursday for an Israeli cooperation to guarantee a smooth process as the second stage of Palestinian municipal elections kicked off across the Palestinian territories.
 
    "There were several obstacles and violations made by the Israeli occupation forces during preparations for the second phase," said Jamal Shoubaki, head of the committee.

    Shoubaki called on the quartet committee -- the United Nations, the European Union, the United States and Russia, to step in to stop Israel from disrupting the election process.

    Palestinians began casting votes in 245 voting stations in the West Bank and 75 in the Gaza Strip. A total of 534 ballot boxes in the West Bank and 250 in Gaza have been set up.

    There were 270,480 eligible Palestinian voters in the West Bank and 130,125 in the Gaza Strip.

    A total of 2,509 candidates will compete for 906 council seats in 84 councils, 76 in the West Bank and eight in the Gaza Strip.

    Most candidates are politically affiliated with several Palestinian factions and parties, mainly the mainstream Fatah movement, Hamas, Islamic Jihad and some left-wing parties.

    Meanwhile, around 3,000 Palestinian police and security officers are deployed at the voting stations to maintain order.

    The first stage of municipal elections was held in the West Bank in December 2004 and in the Gaza Strip in February, with 36 municipal councils -- 26 in the West Bank and 10 in the Gaza Strip, elected.

    Hamas, whose street popularity has witnessed a surge recently, put up a strong showing in the first stage by garnering 20 councils, outperforming Fatah chaired by Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

    It has not been decided when the third and last stage of the municipal elections will be held, which is supposed to be for such big cities as Gaza, Khan Younis, Ramallah, Hebron and Nablus. Enditem