Palestinian panel blames Hamas for poll delay

Ramallah, West Bank: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who last week said he didn't want to run for re-election, may get to stay in office without a single ballot being cast.

The Palestinian Election Commission ruled Thursday that January's scheduled vote should be put off because of opposition from the Islamic group Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip and is a rival of Abbas' Fatah faction.

Abbas raised international concern last week when he declined to run for another term, suggesting he was frustrated over a 10-month stalemate in Israel-Palestinian peacemaking. His departure would have thrown peace efforts into turmoil.

Now it appears Abbas may have been signalling his need for more backing from the US against Israel since Hamas' rejection of a vote was likely.

The Palestinian Election Commission blamed Gaza's Hamas rulers for forcing the postponement. Hamas overran Gaza in 2007. Hamas leaders oppose an election organised by Fatah, and without Gaza a complete election cannot be held.

Conditions: Arab League calls for halt in colony building

The Arab League is reiterating there can be no peace talks with Israel without the full freezing of colony construction by the Jewish state.

Thirteen Arab foreign ministers said after a meeting in Cairo on Thursday that they support President Barack Obama's vision for peace in the Middle East, based on the concept of a two-state solution.