Abbas aims to stay in office till 2010

Occupied Jerusalem: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas plans to remain in office until 2010, he said in an interview published on Sunday.

Abbas called for Palestinian parliamentary and presidential elections to be held in 2010, but rival faction Hamas says his term ends on January 9, 2009.

"I think that the elections for parliament and the presidency should take place together, in January 2010. We will decide, and issue a presidential order accordingly," Abbas told Israel's Haaretz newspaper.

The announcement will likely further tensions between Abbas' Fatah faction and Hamas.

Abbas said it was too early to say whether he would seek another term.

The 2010 elections will give Abbas more time to further peace talks with Israel, which Hamas opposes.