Abbas in another bid to maintain power

Acting PA head Mahmoud Abbas has quietly established a constitutional court in attempt to maintain power and allow him to sideline Hamas in the event of a succession struggle, Reuters reported on Monday.

The nine-member body, which will have supremacy over all lower courts, was created without fanfare by presidential decree on April 3 and was inaugurated on Monday, officials told the news agency.

Critics say the body is packed with jurists from Abbas's Fatah party and risks deepening Palestinian political divisions.

" Abbas's decision comes at a time of worsening splits between Fatah and Hamas, which have been at odds with one another since 2007.

"This is a factional court," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said, arguing that it gave Abbas the ability to sidestep parliament - if the current one ever sits again - or if a new parliament is eventually elected.