Hamas is well prepared to run in the legislative elections slated for Jan. 25 next year, a senior leader of the Palestinian Islamic movement said on Sunday.

Sheikh Hassan Yousef, a Hamas leader in the West Bank, told the Palestinian radio Voice of Palestine that his movement was holding meetings to prepare for the legislative elections.

On Hamas' mechanisms to choose its candidates for the elections, Yousef said Hamas members are still chased and followed by the Israeli army and it will not be easy to announce the names of its candidates.

Meanwhile, Yousef announced it is still too early to talk about if Hamas will join in the Palestinian government after the legislative elections.

"We will discuss the issue at a appropriate time," he said, "Hamas' ultimate goal is the interests of the Palestinian people and their unity."

(Xinhua News Agency August 22, 2005)