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Fatah Officials Call for Abbas Resignation; Hamas Seizes Weapons Provided Under U.S. Security Plan

[Jerusalem Post] Khaled Abu Toameh - Fatah officials and activists in the West Bank called on PA Chairman Abbas to resign, holding him responsible for the fact that Hamas was now in control of most of Gaza. Fatah officials confirmed that Hamas had seized large amounts of weapons and military equipment belonging to Abbas' security forces in Gaza. Some of the weapons were supplied to the PA in recent weeks by Egypt and Jordan as part of a U.S. security plan to boost Fatah-controlled forces. Hamas said it had seized thousands of M-16 and Kalashnikov rifles and pistols, communication equipment, armored vehicles, trucks, binoculars, uniforms, hand grenades and mortars. Hamas militiamen were seen driving some of the confiscated vehicles that have been decorated with Hamas flags and signs. Pictures of the weapons were posted on a number of Hamas-linked Web sites. "Most of the weapons came from Egypt and Jordan over the past few years," a senior Fatah official said. "They did not come directly from the U.S., although the Americans had initiated the supply of weapons and ammunition."
2007-06-14 01:00:00
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