However, elections could only be held in the West Bank while Gaza remains under Hamas rule, further deepening the split between the two territories. One Hamas spokesman hinted the Islamic militants might try to disrupt voting in the West Bank.

In Ramallah, Abbas won backing from the PLO for his most recent steps against Hamas throwing it out of the government, outlawing its militias and forming an emergency Cabinet of moderates in response to the militant group's violent takeover of Gaza.

The PLO Central Council also asked Abbas to prepare new presidential and legislative elections.

An Abbas adviser, Yasser Abed Rabbo, said the Palestinian leader "will work to conduct presidential and legislative elections in the West Bank and Gaza." Asked about holding elections in Gaza, Abed Rabbo said: "Gaza is part of the homeland."

A poll Thursday indicated that 75 percent of Palestinians support new elections in the wake of Hamas' seizure of Gaza. Hamas came to power in January 2006 parliamentary elections, while Abbas, from Fatah, was elected separately a year earlier.

Although largely inactive in recent years, the PLO considers itself the sole representative of the Palestinian people and can bestow legitimacy or take it away. Its decision effectively sidelined the Hamas-controlled parliament, which normally would be asked to approve a new government but has been paralysed since Israel's roundup of most Hamas legislators.

Hamas is not a member of the PLO, which is dominated by Fatah. Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri dismissed the PLO's decisions as "illegal and illegitimate."

Underscoring Hamas' increasing isolation, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak announced he will host a regional peace summit Monday with Abbas, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Jordan's King Abdullah II.