Hamas gov't urged to dissolve security force in 3 days
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-05-21 08:32
GAZA, May 20 -- A newly-established armed force of the Palestinian Fatah
movement demanded the Hamas-led government on Saturday to dissolve its security
force within 3 days.
"The Fatah protection forces give three days to the Hamas government to
dissolve the backup forces formed by Interior Minister Sa'ed Siam," a spokesman
of the new Fatah armed force,who only identified himself as Abu Jihad, told
reporters.
Warning the Hamas-led security force against "standing up to Fatah's
members", Abu Jihad said the new Fatah force was ready to be deployed in the
Gaza Strip.
He also urged President Mahmoud Abbas, who is also Fatah's chairman, to sack
the Hamas-led government and call early elections "to stop escalation of
violence and maintain law."
Last Wednesday, Interior Minister and senior Hamas member Siam ordered the
deployment of the 3,000-strong security force in the Gaza Strip although Abbas
vetoed the formation of the force,terming it illegal.
Siam declared that the new security force was aimed to help the existing
security apparatuses and police to maintain law and order.
Fatah, once dominant on the Palestinian political stage but defeated by Hamas
in the January legislative polls, then set up its new security troop named
protection forces to counter the Hamas force.
Violence between Fatah and Hamas militants over the control of security
forces has erupted in the Palestinian territories in the past few weeks, killing
several people and wounding dozens.
Hamas, or the Islamic Resistance Movement, took the reins
of the Palestinian government in late March. The Islamic group formally commits
itself to Israel's destruction and refuses to renounce violence and abide by
previous Palestinian-Israeli agreements.
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