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Fatah in Gaza Show of Force Against Hamas
Firing in the air, thousands of gunmen from Yasser Arafat's Fatah faction marched Friday in a show of strength against the militant group Hamas over the killing of a Palestinian police chief by a Hamas member. They like to It was the largest turnout of armed Palestinians for a street demonstration in Gaza City since the start of an uprising for statehood two years ago and highlighted mounting tensions between supporters of the Palestinian president and Hamas. "We call on the parties that claim to have no connection to the assassination of Colonel Rajeh Abu Lehiya to end their policy of chaos and anarchy," a Fatah statement distributed at the rally said in clear reference to Hamas. That oughta do a lot of good. Maybe they could meet with Hamas in Oslo and reach an accord with them? Abu Lehiya, chief of riot police in Gaza, was abducted and killed Sunday by a gunman in an "Nope. Wudn't us. Nope, nope." Imad Akel said he killed the police chief to avenge the death of his brother, one of three Palestinians killed by riot police a year ago during protests in support of Osama bin Laden. "I dunnit an' I'm glad! He keel my brother, so I mus' keel heem!" Meetings held between representatives of Hamas, Fatah and Arafat's Palestinian Authority have failed to end the stand-off because Hamas refused to ask Akel to hand himself in to the police. "This here's my town, Mahmoud! Ya want him, ya gotta come through me...!" "Fatah will hunt down all who break the law and assault the sovereignty of the one authority, the Palestinian Authority," demonstrators chanted. Just like they've been doing... Posted by: Fred Pruitt 2002-10-11 |
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