Wednesday, 14 June 2006A Hamas militant has been shot dead in the Gaza Strip as clashes between rival Palestinian factions Fatah and the governing Hamas movement continue.
It is not immediately clear who was behind the attack in Khan Younis.
A commander in a regular security agency loyal to Fatah was injured in an earlier shooting in the town.
Meanwhile, government employees in Ramallah stormed the parliament building, attacking Hamas politicians and demanding to be paid salaries.
The incidents come as Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah prepares to hold more talks with Prime Minister Ismail Haniya of Hamas in an attempt to ease tensions between the two sides.
Heavy guard
Reporters at the parliament chamber in Ramallah, which was holding a session at the time, said the demonstrators ripped up documents and brawled with elected officials.
"We are hungry. We are hungry," shouted the protesters - most of whom are thought to be from the Fatah faction.
The speaker, Abdul Aziz Duaik of Hamas, left the hall under heavy guard shortly before the crowd burst in and refused to return until protesters had left.
Tens of thousands of civil servants' salaries have not been paid since Hamas took office more than three months ago, causing hardship throughout the West Bank and Gaza.
Palestinian government coffers are empty, because of sanctions imposed by Israel and foreign governments, who accuse Hamas of terrorism.
On Monday, pro-Fatah gunmen set fire to Mr Haniya's and other parliament offices in Ramallah, the seat of government in the West Bank.
More than 20 people - mostly militiamen - have been killed in clashes reflecting a power struggle between Hamas and Fatah in the streets of Gaza.
A commander for the Preventative Security Forces, Rifaat Kulab, was ambushed on Wednesday morning while travelling by car to his office. Reports said he was hot several times in both legs.
Security sources quoted by Reuters news agency said the dead Hamas militant had been among the group of masked men who attacked Mr Kulab.
BBC News
June 14, 2006 |
Wednesday, 14 June 2006
Palestine
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