RAMALLAH, Dec. 19 (Xinhuanet) -- Chief Palestinian Negotiator Saeb Erekat said on Monday that the European Union should support the upcoming Palestinian legislative elections instead of imposing conditions on who should participate.

    Erekat's remarks came in response to comments by EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana on Sunday that the EU will halt aids to the Palestinians if Hamas wins in the Jan. 25 parliamentary elections without renouncing violence and recognizing Israel.

    Erekat told Palestinian radio Voice of Palestine that the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) totally rejected the idea that who should run in the elections and who shouldn't.

    What's more, the EU should not link the elections to its aids to the PNA, Erekat added.

    The EU, like Israel and the United States, has raised concerns about Hamas' participation in the elections.

    Hamas, a radical militant group sworn to Israel's destruction,put up a strong showing in the latest local elections in the West Bank last week.

    With a surging popularity, Hamas is also poised to present a tough challenge to the ruling Fatah movement led by Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

    Faced with internal rifts, Fatah candidates will run in two separate lists in the upcoming elections. Enditem