Hamas chief Mashaal wants to step down
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Hamas's leader in exile, Khaled Mashaal, is tired of policy challenges from the Islamist group's Gaza-based leadership and is not seeking re-election in a vote now underway, political and diplomatic sources said on Sunday.
Mashaal, who has led Hamas since 1996 from various Arab capitals, told a meeting of its senior officials in Cairo last week that he had no desire to remain its chief and his decision not to run in the election was final, said a source close to Hamas. "He (Mashaal) told them to pick another leader," the source said. (Reuters)
