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Abbas urges 'bring down Hamas' Abbas urges 'bring down Hamas'
(about 5 hours later)
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has called for Gaza's Hamas rulers to be "brought down", his strongest call yet for their removal.Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has called for Gaza's Hamas rulers to be "brought down", his strongest call yet for their removal.
Previously he has only demanded Hamas apologise for taking over Gaza and return it to Fatah security control.Previously he has only demanded Hamas apologise for taking over Gaza and return it to Fatah security control.
The militant Islamist group seized the Gaza Strip from its secular rival Fatah, headed by Mr Abbas, in June. His comments came after Hamas security forces killed eight Fatah members at a rally in Gaza on Monday.
His comments come days after the killing of seven Fatah members by Hamas security forces at a rally in Gaza. A Hamas leader in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, has expressed regret for the deaths, and promised a public investigation.
Members of the Hamas-run Executive Force opened fire on the massive rally to commemorate the late Yasser Arafat which turned into a protest again Hamas control. Releases ordered
Separately, Israeli forces have killed two Palestinian militants and wounded three other people in northern Gaza. He also said members of Hamas' security forces might have been at fault, and said he had ordered the release of people arrested if there was no evidence against them. But he added: "The guilty will be punished under the law."
Witnesses in Beit Lahyia said the Israeli fire followed rocket launches by Palestinian militants across the border into Israel. We have to bring down this bunch, which took over Gaza with armed force, and is abusing the sufferings and pains of our people" Mahmoud AbbasPresident, Palestinian Authority
The dead militants were identified as members of the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, an armed offshoot of Fatah. Members of the Hamas-run Executive Force opened fire on the massive rally to commemorate the late Yasser Arafat, which turned into a protest again Hamas control.
Rally restriction Afterwards, Hamas moved to shore up its control of the narrow coastal strip.
"We have to bring down this bunch, which took over Gaza with armed force, and is abusing the sufferings and pains of our people," Mr Abbas said in a speech. It has rounded up more than 400 Fatah activists in Gaza during the week. It has also announced media restrictions and a plan to further curb public gatherings.
In his speech marking Palestine National Day, Mr Abbas said:"We have to bring down this bunch, which took over Gaza with armed force, and is abusing the sufferings and pains of our people."
Mr Abbas has set up an emergency government in the West Bank, while Israel - which considers Hamas a terrorist organisation - has tightened its blockade of the Gaza Strip.Mr Abbas has set up an emergency government in the West Bank, while Israel - which considers Hamas a terrorist organisation - has tightened its blockade of the Gaza Strip.
After Monday's massive Fatah rally in Gaza City, Hamas has moved to shore up its control of the narrow coastal strip. Hamas won democratic elections for the Palestinian Authority parliament in 2006, but Mr Abbas has condemned the Gaza take-over in June as a putsch by Hamas.
It has rounded up more than 400 Fatah activists during the week. It has also announced media restrictions and a plan to further curb public gatherings. Israeli attack
Hamas won democratic elections for the Palestinian Authority parliament in 2006, but Mr Abbas has condemned the internecine struggle in June as a putsch by Hamas. In a separate incident, Israeli forces have killed two Palestinian militants and wounded three other people in northern Gaza.
Witnesses in Beit Lahyia said the Israeli fire followed rocket launches by Palestinian militants across the border into Israel.
The dead militants were identified as members of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, an armed offshoot of Fatah.