Fatah, Hamas gunmen clash in Gaza streets
GAZA, April 22 (Reuters) - Dozens of Palestinian supporters from Hamas and President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction were wounded on Saturday in clashes in the Gaza Strip sparked by a growing dispute over control of security in the territory.
The clashes, the worst between the groups in several months, began when student supporters of the factions hurled stones at one another outside a Gaza university and intensified when gunmen intervened.
Medics said 20 people were wounded by stones and pipe bombs. Police forces were unable to control the clashes, which ended within hours, witnesses said.
Hamas, an Islamic militant group elected to head the Palestinian government in a January vote, announced on Thursday the formation of a new security force to be headed by a top militant loyal to the faction. Abbas later vetoed the decision.
The Palestinian president's move prompted sharp reaction from Khaled Meshaal, the exiled leader of Hamas who said on Friday that Abbas and other members of his Fatah faction were assisting a Western campaign to isolate the new government.
The United States and other world powers have cut off aid to the Palestinian Authority since Hamas's win, saying the group, which is sworn to destroying Israel, must renounce violence and recognise the Jewish state and interim peace deals.
The clashes, the worst between the groups in several months, began when student supporters of the factions hurled stones at one another outside a Gaza university and intensified when gunmen intervened.
Medics said 20 people were wounded by stones and pipe bombs. Police forces were unable to control the clashes, which ended within hours, witnesses said.
Hamas, an Islamic militant group elected to head the Palestinian government in a January vote, announced on Thursday the formation of a new security force to be headed by a top militant loyal to the faction. Abbas later vetoed the decision.
The Palestinian president's move prompted sharp reaction from Khaled Meshaal, the exiled leader of Hamas who said on Friday that Abbas and other members of his Fatah faction were assisting a Western campaign to isolate the new government.
The United States and other world powers have cut off aid to the Palestinian Authority since Hamas's win, saying the group, which is sworn to destroying Israel, must renounce violence and recognise the Jewish state and interim peace deals.
posted by Marko at 4/22/2006 10:10:00 AM
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