Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman in Gaza, told reporters that Hamas doesn't want only presidential elections to be held within 60 days, but wants to hold general elections as well.

"If the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) is able to hold presidential elections, why not to hold general elections as well," said Abu Zuhri, who made the remarks at a mourning tent in Gaza for the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

The tent was set up to receive condolences for Arafat who passed away on Thursday in a French military hospital in Paris.

"If the Israeli security measures imposed on the Palestinian territories disable the Palestinians to hold presidential and general elections, then the only solution is to form a unified national leadership," said Abu Zuhri.

Rawhi Fattouh, the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) speaker, was named as the interim PNA president until presidential elections to choose a formal leader to succeed the late Arafat were held within 60 days under the Palestinian basic law.

Palestinians have announced Sunday that the presidential elections would be held on Jan. 9, 2005.