Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Tuesday he'll call general elections very soon, signaling that he's ready for a new showdown with the Islamic militant Hamas.

"We will call for parliamentary and presidential elections soon, very soon, in the West Bank and Gaza," said Abbas on Tuesday, after meeting with a former Russian prime minister.

Abbas' comments, his clearest yet on elections, come at a time of growing animosity between rivals. Hamas, which wrested control of Gaza from Abbas 18 months ago, contends that his term as president ends January 8th 2009.

Abbas initially said he has another year, but polls indicate most Palestinians disagree with him. A call for elections appears to be the only way for Abbas to retain his legitimacy.

However, it remains unclear whether he actually intends to hold them, or just plans to call for a vote as a tactical move, with the expectation that Hamas would refuse to go along.

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said Tuesday that Hamas opposes holding elections before the rivals have worked out their differences. Hamas could block elections in Gaza, and it's not clear whether Abbas would agree to hold elections only in the West Bank since that would deepen the split between the territories.

Abbas aide Saeb Erekat said it would be a bad idea to hold elections only in the West Bank, adding that he is expressing his personal view. Still, Abbas was moving ahead.

On Monday, he met with the heads of the Palestinian Central Election Commission and is to consult with them again next week. The commission is to present possible dates for elections.

Palestinian officials said they expect Abbas to announce a date before the end of the month. After such an announcement, elections could be held 90 days later, at the earliest.

Abbas will not contend in April's PA presidential elections

The London-based Arab newspaper Al-Hayat reported on Tuesday that Abbas will not contend in the elections that are likely to be held in April 2009.

Abbas' aides have told the paper that one of the reasons for his decisions was his old age. The paper also reported that Abbas made his decision after consulting with several regional leaders, including Syrian President Bashar Assad, who advised him to hold the elections in August or September. Abbas is constitutionally obliged to hold the elections in the course of 2009.

Meanwhile, a Palestinian poll released last week showed that 40 percent of the residents of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip wish to emigrate, compared to 25 percent in the West Bank.

The coastal territory is currently under an Israeli blockade, imposed by Israel in response to cross-border attacks by Gaza militants. According to the poll, 74 percent of Gazans support continuing the cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in the Strip that is set to end next week.

Israel has said it wants to extend the cease-fire. However, Islamic Jihad said it won't go along if Israel targets the group's members in the West Bank, and Hamas has sent conflicting messages.