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Hamas says it has freed dozens of Fatah prisoners
 Hamas said on Friday it had freed dozens of members of the rival Fatah movement detained after a mass rally in Gaza City in honour of the late Yasser Arafat ended in eight people being shot dead. The interior ministry of the Hamas-led government dismissed by Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas said that it had freed dozens of people who were arrested after the trouble and rioting that broke out during the demonstration. A ministry statement said Ismail Haniya, prime minister in the sacked government, approved the releases. Hazem Abu Shanab, a spokesman for Abbass secular Fatah movement, confirmed that a small number of people held by Hamas had been released overnight. I have ordered the release of all the people arrested if there is no proof against them of an attack on the security forces, Haniya said in a speech broadcast on Hamas television on Thursday. Hamas rounded up at least 200 Fatah party members in Gaza on Tuesday a day after the deadly rally at which Islamist gunmen killed eight people.Posted by: Fred 2007-11-17 |
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