In the Occupied Territories, a senior Palestinian aide has accused Hamas of attempting a “coup” against Palestinian Authority Chair Mahmoud Abbas. The statement followed a measure approved by the new Hamas-controlled legislature to cancel a recent decision to grant Abbas wider powers. The aide, Tayeb Abdel-Rahim, said: “We see this as a coup attempt to change the regime and they have to seriously reconsider their decisions.” But a Hamas spokesperson insisted the new measure was within the bounds of the law.