Initial results for the third phase of the Palestinian local elections showed that the ruling Fatah Movement was ahead of its rival Hamas Movement, said the Higher Committee for Local Elections on Friday.
Head of the committee Jamal Al-Shubaki said that Fatah secured 61 out of 104 local councils, while Hamas won 28 and other factions 15. All in all, Fatah won 546 seats out of 1,018 say 54%, Hamas won 165 seats (26%), PFLP won 50 seats (4.9%) while the other factions and independent candidates took the reminder of the seats.
About 127,000 Palestinians cast their votes Thursday in 82 electoral districts to choose their representatives in rural and municipal councils for the West Bank's towns and villages.
