Special report: Internal situation in Palestine 

    RAMALLAH, July 18 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas vowed on Wednesday to punish Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) which took control of Gaza Strip after defeating his Fatah movement last month.

    "We don't want to punish the Palestinian people but Hamas must be chastised," Abbas said while addressing the Central Council of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) which convened in Ramallah for the first time in years.

    Meanwhile, the president said he will ask the council to authorize early presidential and parliamentary elections "without waiting those of Hamas who are inside or exiled outside."

    Hamas won legislative elections in 2006 and soon engaged in a power struggle with Fatah. The military conflict ended in June when Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip.

    In the wake of Hamas' violent takeover of Gaza, President Abbas sacked the unity government led by Hamas, accusing it of carrying out a coup in the Strip.