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Fatah gunmen attack Palestinian parliament
 Looks like it's almost time to go to the mattresses. And put the popcorn machine on full blast...RAMALLAH, West Bank - Hundreds Palestinian security forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas went on a violent rampage against the Hamas-led government Monday night, riddling the parliament and Cabinet buildings with bullets to protest an attack against their comrades in the Gaza Strip by Hamas gunmen. The security men shot out the windows of the parliament before storming the two-building Cabinet complex, where they smashed furniture, destroyed computers and scattered documents. No casualties were reported. But the mob set fire to one of the Cabinet buildings, causing heavy damage as flames quickly spread. "Every time they touch one of ours in Gaza, we will get ten of theirs in the West Bank," said one member of the Preventive Security force, which is loyal to Abbas' Fatah movement. It's the Gaza way. Or is it the West Bank way? Dozens of gunmen from the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, a pro-Fatah militia, joined the security men. The rampage followed an attack in Gaza early Monday by Hamas gunmen on a Preventive Security installation. The attack set off daylong clashes that left two people dead and 14 wounded. Abbas has been locked in a bitter power struggle with Hamas since the Islamic group beat Fatah in legislative elections. Hamas now controls the parliament and Cabinet. The power struggle has revolved around control of security forces. With most forces loyal to Abbas, Hamas has deployed its own private militia in the Gaza Strip, raising tensions between the sides. Abbas was in Gaza at the time of the rampage, where he has been holding negotiations with Hamas in hopes of ending the political deadlock. How's that working out? Posted by: tu3031 2006-06-12 |
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