Fatah survives Hamas challenge in polls

The Palestinian Election Comm-ittee said Fatah won control of 52 of 84 municipal councils across the West Bank and Gaza Strip to 24 for Hamas. Smaller factions took four councils, with four municipalities undecided.

Hamas, which made inroads in several key population centres, disputed the figures and said it was not ready to concede defeat in a poll widely seen as an indicator of Palestinian public sentiment ahead of a parliamentary election in July.

Fatah had seen its popularity slip amid corruption allegations while support for Hamas has been on the rise.

But political analysts said Fatah had fought back by stepping up internal reforms aimed at giving a younger generation of activists a stronger voice in the mainstream faction.

It did well in recent student elections in several Palestinian universities and fielded reformist candidates for the municipal vote.

The election came against the backdrop of a fragile ceasefire with Israel engineered by Abbas that has raised hopes of reviving Middle East peacemaking following 4-1/2 years of Palestinian uprising.

Fatah is committed to a two-state solution with Israel, while Hamas -- the driving force behind a suicide bombing campaign against Israelis during the uprising -- is dedicated to the destruction of the Jewish state.