Fatah rebels file separate Palestinian ballot list

RAMALLAH, West Bank - Rebel members of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party banded together to run for parliament on a competing ticket, highlighting a split before elections in January.

The list, headed by jailed Fatah firebrand Marwan Barghouthi, was filed before the midnight deadline under the name al-Mustaqbal (The Future). Foreign Minister Nasser al-Kidwa followed with the Abbas-approved Fatah list.

The rebels fear the expected dominance of "Old Guard" politicians, widely viewed as corrupt, on the official party list could hurt the faction in the elections as it tries to fend off an unprecedented challenge by Hamas Islamists.

The split occurred a day after the Palestinian Central Elections Committee briefly suspended all operations when gunmen from Fatah stormed election offices to demand polls be delayed, then fought a gunbattle with police in the Gaza Strip.

Such violence has raised concern that the elections could be marred by violence or postponed despite vows by Abbas to hold them on time.

The challenges to Abbas' leadership come as he is struggling to contain increasing unrest in the Gaza Strip, viewed as a testing ground for Palestinian statehood following Israel's withdrawal in September after 38 years of occupation.

Barghouthi is serving five life terms in an Israeli prison over militant attacks, though many Palestinians believe he could be freed under a peace deal with the Jewish state.

Adding electoral muscle to his list were Jibril al-Rajoub and Mohammed Dahlan, strongmen in the West Bank and Gaza respectively.

- REUTERS