Palestinians likely to go to polls in July

RAMALLAH, Palestinian Territories - The Palestinian cabinet will meet later on Tuesday and is expected to name a date for the first elections since 2006, government officials told AFP.

Speaking on condition of anonymity they said that mid-July was the most likely date for the local elections, which would probably be limited to the West Bank following the refusal of the Gaza Strip's Hamas rulers to take part.

Local polls were originally set for July 2010 but postponed after the militant Islamic Hamas said it would not participate.