Palestinian militants that are part of a new security force of the Hamas-led Palestinian government patrol the main square in Gaza City, Wednesday May 17, 2006. (Xinhua/Reuters)

The rift between Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and the Fatah movement widened as Interior Minister Saeed Siam ordered a new security force, whose formation was annulled by President Mahmoud Abbas, to start operating yesterday.

Siam, a senior Hamas member, declared in a pre-recorded statement broadcast on Hamas-run al-Aqsa radio that the new security force formally began its duties to help the police maintain law and order in the Palestinian territories.

"As minister of interior and national security, I declare the inauguration of the security force to protect people and their possessions," said Siam.

He said that the decision to launch the new force was made due to "mounting disorder and instability and increased attacks against the people."

Siam also accused Palestinian security forces of being "unable to fulfill their role fully."

"The current weakness of the security forces is clear to everyone. There is stealing, kidnapping and killing, so there is a real need for this force."

Just hours after Siam gave the green light to the new force,hundreds of its members deployed on Gaza streets.

Fatah movement regarded the move as defiance to Abbas.

Maher Miqdad, a Fatah official, said that "operating the new security force is to declare the security apparatuses dead.""This force is illegal," Fatah spokesman Tawfik Abu Khusa told reporters in Gaza.

"Abu Mazen (Abbas) is the chief commander of all security forces, therefore, Siam can't form a new force without Abbas'approval," Azzam al-Ahmad, head of Fatah's parliamentary bloc,told Voice of Palestine radio.

On April 20, the Hamas-led cabinet decided to set up a news ecurity force and appoint Jamal Abu Samhadana, a top militant of the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) who was wanted by Israel for involvement in anti-Israeli attacks, as commander of the new 3,000-strong force.

The force mainly consists of members from Izzdeen al-Qassam Brigades, armed wing of Hamas, and Nasser Saladin's Brigades of the PRC.

The dispute over control of security forces and the economic hardship resulted from Hamas refusal to change its hardline positions sparked clashes between Fatah supporters and Hamas loyalists in Gaza, claimed the lives of three militants last weekand wounded dozens of others.

Hamas, who is committed to Israel's destruction, formed a new government alone in late March after winning a landslide victory over Abbas' long dominant Fatah in parliamentary elections.