RAMALLAH, January 21 (JMCC) - Hamas has asked its leader Khaled Meshaal not to step down,
reports the Associated Press.
In the statement from Hamas' official e-mail account, the Palestinian group urged him to reconsider his decision, saying the issue of who leads the decades-old militant movement should be left to Hamas. The group says the decision shouldn't be made by one person — even its leader.
The movement urges (Mashaal) to reconsider, and to leave this issue to the Shura Council, with full respect to his wishes (not to run again), considering this is a public matter that the Hamas institutions should decide, and not an individual person, the statement said. The Shura Council is the top-level body in Hamas that elects its leadership.
It is not clear when new elections might be held.
Mashaal, who is based in Damascus, was not immediately available for comment.
Senior Hamas official Ezzat Risheq confirmed the statement from his Damascus office. He too, urged Mashaal to reconsider.