Palestinian intelligence chief wounded in blast
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - A bomb exploded in an elevator shaft at Palestinian intelligence headquarters Saturday, seriously wounding the intelligence chief in what security officials called an assassination attempt. A bodyguard was killed and nine other people were hurt.
There was no claim of responsibility. However, the explosion came at a time of growing tensions between the Islamic militant Hamas-led government and moderate President Mahmoud Abbas over control of the security forces.
The intelligence chief, Tareq Abu Rajab, who survived an assassination attempt two years ago, is an Abbas ally and a top member of Abbas’ Fatah movement. Fatah did not openly accuse Hamas of being behind the blast, but Fatah members demanded that Abbas dissolve the Hamas-led government and call early elections.
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The blast went off before noon Saturday at the heavily guarded four-story intelligence headquarters in Gaza City. Abu Rajab and six aides and bodyguards were in an elevator when the blast went off. A bodyguard was killed and the intelligence chief and five others in the elevator seriously wounded.
Three others were also hurt, including a secretary riding in an adjacent elevator, doctors said.
Khaled Abu Hilal, spokesman for the Hamas-controlled Interior Ministry, suggested one of Abu Rajab’s bodyguards inadvertently dropped a hand grenade. The intelligence service dismissed the notion, saying Abu Rajab was the target of an assassination attempt.
The wounded were driven to nearby Shifa Hospital in cars of the intelligence service. Fellow agents fired in the air from the windows of the vehicles to clear the way. Several members of a new Hamas militia fired toward the vehicles, possibly because they believed they were coming under attack, witnesses said.
Abu Rajab underwent surgery at Shifa and was to be taken to an Israeli hospital, doctors said.
The explosion caused considerable damage and bomb experts were sent to the scene to investigate.
Abbas asked to dissolve Hamas government
Some Fatah members demanded that Abbas dissolve the Hamas government and call new elections. A group calling itself the Fatah Protection Unit also demanded that Hamas disband its 3,000-strong militia within three days. The militia was deployed earlier this week, despite Abbas’ vehement opposition.
If the militia is not removed, “we are ready to deploy our men and our fighters in the streets ... to protect Fatah men and all of Palestinian society,” the statement said.
Last week, Abbas sent Abu Rajab to Jordan to look into Jordanian suspicions that Hamas was trying to smuggle explosives into the kingdom and carry out attacks there. The 2,000-member intelligence service and most members of the security forces are loyal to Abbas.
Abu Rajab has also been involved in security coordination with the United States and Israel.
He survived an assassination attempt two years ago when gunmen fired on his convoy. At the time, he was seriously wounded and two of his bodyguards were killed.
There was no claim of responsibility. However, the explosion came at a time of growing tensions between the Islamic militant Hamas-led government and moderate President Mahmoud Abbas over control of the security forces.
The intelligence chief, Tareq Abu Rajab, who survived an assassination attempt two years ago, is an Abbas ally and a top member of Abbas’ Fatah movement. Fatah did not openly accuse Hamas of being behind the blast, but Fatah members demanded that Abbas dissolve the Hamas-led government and call early elections.
Story continues below ↓ advertisement
The blast went off before noon Saturday at the heavily guarded four-story intelligence headquarters in Gaza City. Abu Rajab and six aides and bodyguards were in an elevator when the blast went off. A bodyguard was killed and the intelligence chief and five others in the elevator seriously wounded.
Three others were also hurt, including a secretary riding in an adjacent elevator, doctors said.
Khaled Abu Hilal, spokesman for the Hamas-controlled Interior Ministry, suggested one of Abu Rajab’s bodyguards inadvertently dropped a hand grenade. The intelligence service dismissed the notion, saying Abu Rajab was the target of an assassination attempt.
The wounded were driven to nearby Shifa Hospital in cars of the intelligence service. Fellow agents fired in the air from the windows of the vehicles to clear the way. Several members of a new Hamas militia fired toward the vehicles, possibly because they believed they were coming under attack, witnesses said.
Abu Rajab underwent surgery at Shifa and was to be taken to an Israeli hospital, doctors said.
The explosion caused considerable damage and bomb experts were sent to the scene to investigate.
Abbas asked to dissolve Hamas government
Some Fatah members demanded that Abbas dissolve the Hamas government and call new elections. A group calling itself the Fatah Protection Unit also demanded that Hamas disband its 3,000-strong militia within three days. The militia was deployed earlier this week, despite Abbas’ vehement opposition.
If the militia is not removed, “we are ready to deploy our men and our fighters in the streets ... to protect Fatah men and all of Palestinian society,” the statement said.
Last week, Abbas sent Abu Rajab to Jordan to look into Jordanian suspicions that Hamas was trying to smuggle explosives into the kingdom and carry out attacks there. The 2,000-member intelligence service and most members of the security forces are loyal to Abbas.
Abu Rajab has also been involved in security coordination with the United States and Israel.
He survived an assassination attempt two years ago when gunmen fired on his convoy. At the time, he was seriously wounded and two of his bodyguards were killed.
posted by Marko at 5/20/2006 10:05:00 AM
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