GAZA, May 21 (Xinhuanet) -- A senior leader of the Palestinian dominant Fatah movement called upon the Islamic Hamas on Saturday to respect a court's ruling to annul the results of elections in three Gaza municipalities and re-hold polls.

    Abdullah al Efranji told the Palestinian radio "Voice of Palestine" that Mahmoud al Zahar, a prominent Hamas leader, must show due respect to the court's ruling and then he was free to decide whether to participate in the new ballots or not.

    The senior Fatah member made the statement following Zaharla shed out against the court's ruling, accusing it as a dark plot to usurp Hamas' achievements in the municipal elections.

    Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Zahar said Hamas demanded to replace the court's judges and reverse the decision.  

    Efranji condemned Zahar's statements as "a planned campaignaimed at deforming the image of the Palestinian National Authority."

    The second stage of Palestinian local elections were held on May 5 in 84 municipal councils with 76 in the West Bank and eight in the Gaza Strip.

    Initial tally has showed that Fatah, the long ruling party now led by Palestinian President Mahoud Abbas, has won 50 out of 86 while Hamas has secured around 30, including large urban towns such as Rafah in southern Gaza and Qalqilya in the West Bank. 

    A Palestinian court has recently ruled to annul election results in parts of the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahiya and the central Gaza refugee camp of Bureij as well as the southern Gaza town of Rafah, where Hamas all claimed victory.

    The court's ruling came after some Fatah members accused Hamas of committing forgery in the elections.

    Hamas, the largest Palestinian Islamic group vowing to destruct Israel, has shown an impressive performance in the municipal elections, posing a grave challenge to Fatah.  Enditem