Hamas will no longer recognise Mahmoud Abbas as Palestinian president after January 8 and will then fill the post with one of its leaders, the Islamic militant movement's legislators, citing Palestinian law, said in a resolution adopted on Monday. The vote appeared aimed, in part, at stepping up pressure on Abbas, a political moderate, ahead of a new attempt by Egypt to mediate a power-sharing deal between the two rival camps. The resolution left a loophole, suggesting that Abbas' term could be extended by parliament if deemed to be in the "national interest". However, Monday's vote also marked another step toward deepening the rift between the rivals. Hamas has been in control of Gaza since its violent takeover of the territory in June 2007, leaving Abbas only in charge of the West Bank, and animosity has been growing....
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