RAMALLAH, Sept. 29 (Xinhuanet) -- An official of the mainstream Fatah movement announced on Thursday that the group won the third round of municipal election in the West Bank.

   According to a partial ballot count, Fatah won 60 percent of 127,000 votes, said Adnan Samarah.

   Palestinians held the previous two rounds of local elections in parts of the Gaza Strip and West Bank at the end of last year and this May respectively.

   The third and final stage of the voting was widely seen as a forecast of public opinion for the Palestinian legislative election scheduled for Jan. 25.

   Hamas has outperformed Fatah in the previous two rounds of municipal elections.

   Hamas' rise in the Palestinian political landscape has stirred concerns in Israel, which threatens to disrupt the legislative ballot if Hamas participates in it. Enditem