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01-27-2006, 04:59 PM
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Protesters urge Abbas to resign
Angry activists from the defeated Fatah party of Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas have protested in the Gaza Strip, calling for him to resign.
They gathered outside the legislature, setting fire to government cars and firing shots into the air.
The BBC's Jim Muir in Gaza says they blame the leadership's corruption and inefficiency for Fatah's election defeat to Islamic militants Hamas.
Hamas swept to victory with 76 of the 132 seats in Wednesday's elections.
Mr Abbas said he would ask Hamas to form a new government and Hamas said it would enter talks with Fatah soon to try to forge "unity and partnership".
The comments came as Hamas was facing increasing international pressure to renounce violence against Israel.
Hamas also faces the possibility foreign donors may withhold millions of dollars in aid to the Palestinians.
Appeal for calm
Protesters outside the legislature in Gaza and thousands more in the refugee camp of Nusayrat called for the entire Fatah leadership to go.
A protester toured the area in a van, telling fellow demonstrators through a loudspeaker: "Fatah lost because of the central committee so we call for them to resign."
The protests against Mr Abbas included those from militant Fatah offshoots like the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade.
One militant told AFP news agency: "We call for [Abbas'] resignation from Fatah's revolutionary council and central committee. We want him and his entire team out."
Protesters also chanted: "We don't want to join the Hamas government."
Senior Fatah leader, Mohammad Dahlan, assured the crowd that would not happen.
He appealed for calm, citing the former Palestinian leader: "Do not offend the soul of Yasser Arafat by doing this."
There were also reports of violence between Fatah and Hamas supporters in the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis.
A Hamas member was injured when Fatah supporters set fire to Hamas flags. Later Hamas militants shot at and injured two security men.
Earlier in the day in the town, three people were wounded in a fight.
Donors
The violence came as senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniya said Mr Abbas had agreed to meet shortly to start consultations on "a political partnership" and the make-up of the next administration.
Mr Haniya on Friday made his first big speech since the election victory near Gaza City's waterfront.
He told a packed mosque: "When we are calling for unity and partnership it is not because we are afraid or weak or incapable of facing the challenges ahead, but because we believe in unity."
The BBC's Alan Johnston at the mosque in Gaza says an alliance may be necessary for, if Hamas were to try to govern alone, interaction with the outside world might be extremely difficult.
As it is, he says, some Palestinians are concerned that crucial international financial support may be cut back.
On Friday, the European Commission, which offered 280 million euros ($342m) to the Palestinian people last year, admitted it was in a dilemma about funding.
The US said it would review all its aid if Hamas formed a government.
The BBC's Jonathan Beale in Washington says most US aid - $300 million last year - goes through NGOs, but there is concern such continued funding might strengthen Hamas.
Former US President Jimmy Carter, who met Mr Abbas on Friday, said channels for funding should be found to prevent "chaos".
A victory for Hamas is positive and unsettling at the same time
Jarvin McCrafken, St Louis, US
Our correspondent in Gaza says Mr Haniya acknowledged the financial worries in his speech but said that Palestinians had no need to be afraid. God, he said, would provide.
Correspondents say Mr Haniya's meeting with Mr Abbas will have to be in Gaza, as Israel is unlikely to give permission for a Hamas delegation to travel across Israel to the West Bank.
The Israeli army remains on high alert. The military said it had arrested 15 suspected Palestinian militants - including eight from Hamas - in overnight raids across the West Bank.
Israeli interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has ruled out any talks with Hamas, which it calls "an armed terror organisation that calls for Israel's destruction".
The US, UN, EU and Russia issued a statement on Thursday calling on Hamas to renounce violence and accept Israel's right to exist.
The four powers working for peace in the Middle East will hold talks in London on Monday.
1996 ELECTION 1) Fatah: 55 seats
2) Independent Fatah: 7 seats
3) Independent Islamists: 4
4) Independent Christians: 3
5) Independents: 15 seats
6) Samaritans: 1 seat
7) Others: 1 seat </B>
8) : Vacant: 2 seats
2006 ELECTION 1) Hamas - 76 seats
2) Fatah - 43 seats
3) PFLP - 3 seats
4) Badeel - 2 seats
5) Independent Palestine - 2
6) Third Way - 2 seats
7) Independent/other - 4
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/middle_east/4655882.stm
Published: 2006/01/27 20:49:22 GMT
© BBC MMVI
Welcome to democracy, Abbas
Protesters urge Abbas to resign
Angry activists from the defeated Fatah party of Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas have protested in the Gaza Strip, calling for him to resign.
They gathered outside the legislature, setting fire to government cars and firing shots into the air.
The BBC's Jim Muir in Gaza says they blame the leadership's corruption and inefficiency for Fatah's election defeat to Islamic militants Hamas.
Hamas swept to victory with 76 of the 132 seats in Wednesday's elections.
Mr Abbas said he would ask Hamas to form a new government and Hamas said it would enter talks with Fatah soon to try to forge "unity and partnership".
The comments came as Hamas was facing increasing international pressure to renounce violence against Israel.
Hamas also faces the possibility foreign donors may withhold millions of dollars in aid to the Palestinians.
Appeal for calm
Protesters outside the legislature in Gaza and thousands more in the refugee camp of Nusayrat called for the entire Fatah leadership to go.
A protester toured the area in a van, telling fellow demonstrators through a loudspeaker: "Fatah lost because of the central committee so we call for them to resign."
The protests against Mr Abbas included those from militant Fatah offshoots like the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade.
One militant told AFP news agency: "We call for [Abbas'] resignation from Fatah's revolutionary council and central committee. We want him and his entire team out."
Protesters also chanted: "We don't want to join the Hamas government."
Senior Fatah leader, Mohammad Dahlan, assured the crowd that would not happen.
He appealed for calm, citing the former Palestinian leader: "Do not offend the soul of Yasser Arafat by doing this."
There were also reports of violence between Fatah and Hamas supporters in the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis.
A Hamas member was injured when Fatah supporters set fire to Hamas flags. Later Hamas militants shot at and injured two security men.
Earlier in the day in the town, three people were wounded in a fight.
Donors
The violence came as senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniya said Mr Abbas had agreed to meet shortly to start consultations on "a political partnership" and the make-up of the next administration.
Mr Haniya on Friday made his first big speech since the election victory near Gaza City's waterfront.
He told a packed mosque: "When we are calling for unity and partnership it is not because we are afraid or weak or incapable of facing the challenges ahead, but because we believe in unity."
The BBC's Alan Johnston at the mosque in Gaza says an alliance may be necessary for, if Hamas were to try to govern alone, interaction with the outside world might be extremely difficult.
As it is, he says, some Palestinians are concerned that crucial international financial support may be cut back.
On Friday, the European Commission, which offered 280 million euros ($342m) to the Palestinian people last year, admitted it was in a dilemma about funding.
The US said it would review all its aid if Hamas formed a government.
The BBC's Jonathan Beale in Washington says most US aid - $300 million last year - goes through NGOs, but there is concern such continued funding might strengthen Hamas.
Former US President Jimmy Carter, who met Mr Abbas on Friday, said channels for funding should be found to prevent "chaos".
A victory for Hamas is positive and unsettling at the same time
Jarvin McCrafken, St Louis, US
Our correspondent in Gaza says Mr Haniya acknowledged the financial worries in his speech but said that Palestinians had no need to be afraid. God, he said, would provide.
Correspondents say Mr Haniya's meeting with Mr Abbas will have to be in Gaza, as Israel is unlikely to give permission for a Hamas delegation to travel across Israel to the West Bank.
The Israeli army remains on high alert. The military said it had arrested 15 suspected Palestinian militants - including eight from Hamas - in overnight raids across the West Bank.
Israeli interim Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has ruled out any talks with Hamas, which it calls "an armed terror organisation that calls for Israel's destruction".
The US, UN, EU and Russia issued a statement on Thursday calling on Hamas to renounce violence and accept Israel's right to exist.
The four powers working for peace in the Middle East will hold talks in London on Monday.
1996 ELECTION 1) Fatah: 55 seats
2) Independent Fatah: 7 seats
3) Independent Islamists: 4
4) Independent Christians: 3
5) Independents: 15 seats
6) Samaritans: 1 seat
7) Others: 1 seat </B>
8) : Vacant: 2 seats
2006 ELECTION 1) Hamas - 76 seats
2) Fatah - 43 seats
3) PFLP - 3 seats
4) Badeel - 2 seats
5) Independent Palestine - 2
6) Third Way - 2 seats
7) Independent/other - 4
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/middle_east/4655882.stm
Published: 2006/01/27 20:49:22 GMT
© BBC MMVI
Welcome to democracy, Abbas