Hamas sweeps local polls

The mainstream Fatah faction of Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas won just 26 seats while independents and minor parties won the remaining 15 slots in 10 municipalities across the territory in Thursday's election.

The official results were not due to be announced until a 2:00 pm (1200 GMT) press conference by local government minister Jamal Shobaki but sources on the election commission confirmed the results and the massive 85 percent turnout of registered voters.

The turnout figure easily surpasses the 70 percent rate seen in the January 9 presidential election, which was boycotted by Hamas and Jihad.

Hamas had campaigned on a strong anti-corruption ticket, amid widespread disillusionment among voters about the incompetence and cronyism which has characterised many councils.

Abbas has vowed a crackdown on corruption and to implement sweeping reforms of the Palestinian institutions but the results in Gaza appear to indicate that voters do not trust the establishment party to put its own house in order.