Meshaal says won't seek reelection as Hamas political chief

             Senior Hamas figures have called on Khaled Meshaal, the group's longtime Damascus-based political chief, to reconsider his decision to quit the post when his term ends. The organization said in a statement that Meshaal notified Hamas' consultative council that he does not wish to be a candidate for the movement's future leadership. The statement said the Hamas leadership urged Meshaal to leave the decision to the organization's Shura council, on the basis of the "higher interests of the movement," stressing that it is not a "purely personal matter." Hamas sources say the next elections are expected to be held in July or August. The A-Sharq Al-Awsat daily quotes a Palestinian source in Damascus as saying Mashaal will run again, despite his announcement he will not seek reelection. According to the report, which was not confirmed elsewhere, the Shura council convened in Sudan last month and unanimously rejected Mashaal's request not to seek another four-year term.