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Abbas accuses Hamas of coup plot Abbas accuses Hamas of coup plot
(about 3 hours later)
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has accused Hamas of trying to establish its own state in Gaza.Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has accused Hamas of trying to establish its own state in Gaza.
Mr Abbas condemned Hamas as "murderous terrorists" and "coup plotters", over the group's takeover of Gaza last week.Mr Abbas condemned Hamas as "murderous terrorists" and "coup plotters", over the group's takeover of Gaza last week.
He ruled out talks with the Islamist group - a rival of his Fatah faction - but said the ongoing crisis should not prevent peace talks with Israel.He ruled out talks with the Islamist group - a rival of his Fatah faction - but said the ongoing crisis should not prevent peace talks with Israel.
A Hamas leader in Lebanon, Osama Hamdan, condemned Mr Abbas' speech as "full of lies".A Hamas leader in Lebanon, Osama Hamdan, condemned Mr Abbas' speech as "full of lies".
"It was a long speech full of lies and fabricated stories... it is inappropriate for any president of a people to shut the door to dialogue with an integral part of his people whose weight and size he knows full well," Mr Hamdan said. "It is inappropriate for any president of a people to shut the door to dialogue with an integral part of his people whose weight and size he knows full well," Mr Hamdan said.
There is no dialogue with those murderous terrorists Mahmoud AbbasPalestinian Authority presidentThere is no dialogue with those murderous terrorists Mahmoud AbbasPalestinian Authority president
Last week, Hamas militants seized bases and government compounds in Gaza from rivals Fatah, which Mr Abbas heads.Last week, Hamas militants seized bases and government compounds in Gaza from rivals Fatah, which Mr Abbas heads.
Mr Abbas said the takeover was a premeditated attack agreed with unspecified "foreign elements" in the region.Mr Abbas said the takeover was a premeditated attack agreed with unspecified "foreign elements" in the region.
It was his toughest speech since the escalating violence in Gaza culminated in last week's showdown, and left no room for misunderstanding his position on Hamas, says the BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Ramallah. It was his toughest speech since the escalating violence in Gaza culminated in last week's showdown, says the BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Ramallah.
'Assassination bid''Assassination bid'
In the wake of the Gaza takeover Mr Abbas sacked the Palestinian government, led by Prime Minister Ismail Haniya of Hamas, and replaced it with an emergency cabinet.In the wake of the Gaza takeover Mr Abbas sacked the Palestinian government, led by Prime Minister Ismail Haniya of Hamas, and replaced it with an emergency cabinet.
The president said talks with Israel should resume despite the crisis, calling on the international community to convene a conference to start peace talks. The president said peace talks with Israel should resume despite the crisis, calling on the international community to convene a conference.
"The atmosphere is not preventing a start to negotiations," he said."The atmosphere is not preventing a start to negotiations," he said.
He was speaking at a meeting of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), an umbrella political group, in the West Bank town of Ramallah.He was speaking at a meeting of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO), an umbrella political group, in the West Bank town of Ramallah.
"There is no dialogue with those murderous terrorists," Mr Abbas said, referring to Hamas militants."There is no dialogue with those murderous terrorists," Mr Abbas said, referring to Hamas militants.
Mr Abbas accused Hamas of trying to assassinate him during a planned visit to Gaza a month ago, saying he had seen videotapes in which militants discussed explosives that would be used to kill him.Mr Abbas accused Hamas of trying to assassinate him during a planned visit to Gaza a month ago, saying he had seen videotapes in which militants discussed explosives that would be used to kill him.
The president said Hamas had given Israel an excuse to "punish an entire people" and warned Israel not to take advantage of the upheaval to separate Gaza from the West Bank.The president said Hamas had given Israel an excuse to "punish an entire people" and warned Israel not to take advantage of the upheaval to separate Gaza from the West Bank.
Separately, the European Union has said it will pay 22m euros ($30 million) of debt amassed by the Palestinian Authority to strengthen the new government.
External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner told the European Parliament the EU would also continue humanitarian aid to the region - including to Gaza. The EU is one of the largest donors of aid to the region.
Earlier on Wednesday, Palestinian Information Minister Riyad al-Malki announced that all citizens would have to apply for new travel documents. The new passports would be issued in the West Bank.
It was unclear how Gazans would be able to reach the West Bank to obtain the new documents, as many are barred from travelling through Israel.
Stranded GazansStranded Gazans
Meanwhile, at least five sick Palestinians who had been trying to flee the Gaza Strip crossed the border into Israel for urgent medical treatment, Israeli officials said. Meanwhile at least five sick Palestinians from Gaza, including a teenager with leukaemia, crossed into Israel for urgent medical treatment, Israeli officials said.
Israel has refused entry to many Palestinians on security groundsIsrael has refused entry to many Palestinians on security grounds
A teenager with leukaemia and at least four others passed through the tunnel at the Erez crossing in Israel, after Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak ordered the army to let wounded Palestinians through the crossing for medical assistance. They were allowed to travel after Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak ordered the army to let wounded Palestinians through the Erez crossing for medical assistance.
All foreign nationals living in Gaza were also allowed to cross into Israel.All foreign nationals living in Gaza were also allowed to cross into Israel.
Dozens of people have been stranded at the Erez border crossing since Hamas seized control of Gaza. Dozens of people have been stranded at the crossing since Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip.
Most people fleeing have been denied entry by Israel, which controls the crossing, on security grounds.Most people fleeing have been denied entry by Israel, which controls the crossing, on security grounds.
Aid agencies were allowed to cross the border to deliver food and medical supplies, but the UN has warned of food shortages in Gaza within two weeks unless Israel lets normal shipments through. Aid agencies were allowed to deliver food and medical supplies to Gaza, but the UN has warned of shortages within two weeks unless Israel lets normal shipments through.