Hamas Gunmen, Palestinians Exchange Fire
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - Hamas gunmen traded heavy fire with Palestinian police near the parliament building in Gaza City on Monday, killing the driver of Jordan's ambassador in Gaza and wounding three people.
The diplomat's car was hit by three bullets fired into the windshield. The ambassador was not in the vehicle when it came under fire. It was not clear whether the vehicle was a target or inadvertently drove into the battle.
During the fighting, Hamas gunmen, holed up in an abandoned building during the battle, fired a rocket-propelled grenade and threw two hand grenades at the police, witnesses said.
The killing of the driver brought to eight the number of deaths in internal fighting in Gaza this month. Hospital officials identified the driver as Khaled Radaida, 45, and said he was a Jordanian citizen. Two civilians and a policeman were wounded in the shootout, doctors said.
The fighting erupted in an area between the Palestinian parliament and police headquarters.
Security officials said the incident began when members of a new Hamas militia stopped a car carrying members of the Preventive Security Service, a branch loyal to moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Preventive Security officials said Hamas militiamen fired at the car. Earlier, witnesses had said the incident began when Hamas gunmen patrolling the streets came under fire and sought cover in the abandoned building.
A Palestinian police cruiser trying to approach the area came under fire, the witnesses said.
The diplomat's car was hit by three bullets fired into the windshield. The ambassador was not in the vehicle when it came under fire. It was not clear whether the vehicle was a target or inadvertently drove into the battle.
During the fighting, Hamas gunmen, holed up in an abandoned building during the battle, fired a rocket-propelled grenade and threw two hand grenades at the police, witnesses said.
The killing of the driver brought to eight the number of deaths in internal fighting in Gaza this month. Hospital officials identified the driver as Khaled Radaida, 45, and said he was a Jordanian citizen. Two civilians and a policeman were wounded in the shootout, doctors said.
The fighting erupted in an area between the Palestinian parliament and police headquarters.
Security officials said the incident began when members of a new Hamas militia stopped a car carrying members of the Preventive Security Service, a branch loyal to moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Preventive Security officials said Hamas militiamen fired at the car. Earlier, witnesses had said the incident began when Hamas gunmen patrolling the streets came under fire and sought cover in the abandoned building.
A Palestinian police cruiser trying to approach the area came under fire, the witnesses said.
posted by Marko at 5/22/2006 08:30:00 AM
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