Abbas urges end to Israel attacks

Mahmoud Abbas was keen to agree a joint stance on the elections

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has appealed to militant groups to halt rocket attacks on Israel.

He made the plea at a meeting of armed groups in Gaza, ahead of parliamentary elections planned for next month.

Islamic Jihad is reported already to have rejected his call, blaming Israel for a recent escalation in violence.

Mr Abbas was also reportedly seeking agreement from the groups not to proceed with the polls if Israel stops Palestinians in East Jerusalem voting.

Israel had said last week it might ban Jerusalem citizens from joining the polls if the militant group Hamas, which it says is a terrorist organisation, participated.

However, it retreated from that position when the Palestinians threatened to cancel the whole election unless East Jerusalem could vote.

Strong challenge

Mr Abbas' appeal for an end to rocket attacks came at a late-night meeting in Gaza City on Tuesday.

Speaking afterwards, chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat also called on armed groups to stay committed to the truce, describing it as "a matter of high national interest".

Fatah has been in disarray since a rebel faction broke off

It comes shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon ordered the Israeli army to do everything possible to prevent Palestinian rocket attacks.

He on Sunday ordered the army to enforce a no-go zone in northern Gaza under which, according to reports, any Palestinian straying into the zone could be shot from the border.

Palestinian militants say the rocket attacks are "retaliation" for raids in the occupied West Bank, as well as air strikes on Gaza.

There were more Israeli air strikes against targets in Gaza early on Wednesday morning, though there were no reports of casualties.

The Israeli army said the aircraft had attacked access roads used by militants to fire rockets at Israeli targets.

The armed groups have been able to fire missiles deeper into Israel since it withdrew from Gaza in September.

Mr Abbas' Fatah group is expected to face a strong challenge in the poll from Hamas, which is contesting parliamentary elections for the first time.

The Palestinian leader was expected to take a step to end a damaging split within Fatah on Wednesday by presenting a unified list of candidates for the election.

Fatah has been in disarray since a group of younger members led by jailed West Bank intifada leader Marwan Barghouti broke away.

The 25 January poll will be only the second since the establishment of the Palestinian Authority in 1995.