Abbas declares Hamas militia illegal, raising stakes in factional battle (AP)

[Eugene]

Abbas declares Hamas militia illegal, raising stakes in factional battle

The Associated Press
Published: January 6, 2007

RAMALLAH, West Bank: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday declared
Hamas' paramilitary militia in the Gaza Strip illegal, raising the stakes in his standoff
with the Islamic movement.

Abbas made the announcement two days after members of the Hamas force attacked
the home of a senior security commander in Gaza, killing the man and seven of his
bodyguards. The man was a member of the Preventive Security force, which is loyal
to Abbas' Fatah party.

"In light of continued security chaos and assassinations that got to a number of our
fighters ... and in light of the failure of existing agencies and security apparatuses
in imposing law and order and protecting the security of the citizens, President Mahmoud
Abbas decided to reshuffle the security forces and its leadership and to consider the
(Hamas) executive force, officers and members, illegal and outside the law," Abbas'
office said in a statement.

Fatah and Hamas have been locked in a power struggle since the Islamic group defeated
Fatah in parliamentary elections a year ago. The dispute has centered around control
of the powerful Palestinian security forces.

-snip-

Full article: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/01/06/africa/ME-GEN-Palestinians-Abbas.php

[Eugene]

1. Hamas force says will double its numbers in Gaza (Reuters)

Hamas force says will double its numbers in Gaza
06 Jan 2007 15:20:58 GMT
Source: Reuters

GAZA, Jan 6 (Reuters) - A security force under the control of the Hamas government
said it would double its numbers to 12,000 personnel, just hours after Palestinian
President Mahmoud Abbas declared the Gaza-based unit illegal. "A decision was taken
to increase the number of the executive force to 12,000," said Islam Shahwan, a
spokesman of the unit.

"We call upon all sincere citizens to prepare themselves to join the force."

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L06748869.htm

[pelsar]

2. fatah..

has a force in Jordan they want to send over......if there is an all out war...those escaping the fighting will end up going to Egypt or Israel....