Advanced Search
Business | Metro | Nation | World | Sports | Features | Specials | Delta Stories
 
 
Hamas, Fatah agree to probe Gaza gunbattle
23/5/2006 10:41

The ruling Hamas and opposition Fatah movement agreed yesterday to form an inquiry committee to probe the latest clashes between supporters of the two rival groups in Gaza.

The driver of the Jordanian ambassador to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) was killed and nine Palestinians injured during an exchange of fire on Monday in Gaza City between the new security force formed by the interior ministry of Hamas-led government and the Preventive Security Force loyal to Fatah.

The agreement was reached at an urgent meeting between deputies of Hamas and Fatah at an Egyptian diplomat's house in Gaza City.

Following the three-hour meeting, both sides strongly condemned the latest bloodshed and urged President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haneya to end the tension between their two groups which has escalated since Hamas deployed the newly formed security force in Gaza on May 17 despite Abbas annulment.

The two movements condemned the attempts to assassinate intelligence chief Tareq Abu Rajab and internal security chief Rashid Abu Shbak, both loyal to Abbas' Fatah, urging those behind the attempts to be brought to justice.

Abu Rajab was critically wounded in an explosion in Palestinian intelligence headquarters in Gaza City on Saturday.

A bomb was discovered outside the home of Abu Shbak in Gaza City on Sunday, apparently designed to blow up his convoy.



Xinhua