GAZA, Dec. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) said Friday that it won a great victory in the fourth and last round of municipal elections in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the strongest sign yet of its growing political appeal ahead of Jan. 25 parliament elections.

    Hamas spokesman Sami Abu-Zahri told the press that out of a total of 15 Nablus seats, his movement captured 13 and won 9 seats in each of the West Bank cities of Jenin and Bira.

    Most of the Ramallah seats now belonged to Hamas, he added.

    Official election results were to be announced Saturday. In major West Bank and Gaza owns, thousands of Hamas supporters marched through streets after Friday prayers to celebrate the group's election victory.

    The fourth and last round of the Palestinian municipal elections started on Thursday. Some 148,000 Palestinian voters cast their ballots in 40 constituencies across Gaza and the West Bank.

    This round of elections is considered crucial to any political factions since some of the biggest West Bank cities, such as Ramallah, Nablus and Jenin, were included.

    In the past rounds of municipal voting over the past year, Fatah received 35 percent of council seats, compared to 23 percentf or Hamas.

    The unofficial results of the last round elections have stunne druling Fatah officials led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who blamed the poor showing on internal disarray in the party.

    Observers pointed out that coupled with Hamas' radical resistance to the Israeli occupation, its programs on schools, clinics and other welfare have won it grass-roots support among Palestinians, while being impressed by Fatah's corruption and inability to bring order to the lawless streets.

    Hani Masri, a Palestinian political commentator for the Al-Ayyam daily, said that "Fatah today is a sinking ship. Everyone is trying to jump ship and this will open the way for Hamas to win the upcoming election.'' Enditem