(New York Times) Steven Erlanger - Hundreds of Palestinian security personnel loyal to Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas went on a rampage Monday in the West Bank town of Ramallah, attacking the parliament and cabinet buildings controlled by his rivals in the Hamas-led government. The attack came after Hamas gunmen attacked the Gaza headquarters of the Fatah-dominated security forces with rockets and grenades. At least 2 people were killed and 15 wounded in the fighting in Gaza. In Ramallah, a member of the security forces told AP, "Every time they touch one of ours in Gaza, we will get ten of theirs in the West Bank." The Hamas majority in parliament decided Monday to allow dialogue between the factions to continue on a unified political platform, hoping to make a referendum called by Abbas for July 26 unnecessary. In Damascus, Moussa Abu Marzouk, deputy chief of Hamas' political bureau in Syria, said Hamas would do its best to stop the vote. "Even if it is carried out, Hamas would not recognize it or accept its outcome, whatever it might be," he said.
2006-06-13 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive