SeanAshi
03-14-2004, 08:50 PM
The Palestinian Authority has released four Palestinians from the Gaza Strip who were suspected of carrying out a deadly bombing of a United States diplomatic convoy, Palestinian sources said Sunday.
Three American security guards were killed in the October 15 attack, which took place near the Erez crossing.
The sources said the suspects were released because there was not sufficient evidence to hold them.
The four - Naim Abu Alful, 43; Bashir Abu Laven, 42; Muhammed Asleeya, 22; and Ahmed A-Safi, 24 - are all residents of the Jabalya refugee camp in the Gaza Strip and members of the Popular Resistance Committees.
The four had been arrested by Palestinian security forces several weeks ago and charged with manslaughter for planting bombs aimed at Israeli tanks that might also have hit the convoy. The U.S. had asked the PA after the attack to bring the perpetrators to justice.
However, U.S. diplomats and even Palestinian security sources questioned whether the men were the real culprits or convenient scapegoats. There had been some expectation that their arrest would deflect U.S. pressure on Palestinian investigators.
Some Palestinian officials said the real perpetrators of the October attack could be linked to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's own Fatah organization, or even to the security forces.
Palestinians security sources said the four arrested men appeared before a Palestinian judge Sunday who said there was not enough evidence to hold them and ordered them freed.
Soon after, dozens of relatives, friends and some militants gathered outside the prison to await their release. "I am so excited. I can't wait to see him coming out," said Safia Abu Laden, mother of one of the prisoners. "I give thanks to God that he answered my prayers to keep him safe and free him for his children."
The attack on the convoy was the first attack on a U.S. target in more than three years of Israeli-Palestinian fighting. In response, U.S. officials threatened to cut back aid and diplomatic travel to the Palestinian areas until the bombers are caught.
A day after the attack, Palestinian security forces in Gaza arrested seven members of the Popular Resistance Committees, an umbrella network of militant groups that have used powerful roadside bombs against Israeli tanks. Other members were arrested over time, but most of the suspects were subsequently released.
Some members of the militant group were waiting outside the jail for the release of the men.
The U.S. has offered a $5 million reward for information about the attackers. Palestinian security officials say no one has claimed the bounty.
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Three American security guards were killed in the October 15 attack, which took place near the Erez crossing.
The sources said the suspects were released because there was not sufficient evidence to hold them.
The four - Naim Abu Alful, 43; Bashir Abu Laven, 42; Muhammed Asleeya, 22; and Ahmed A-Safi, 24 - are all residents of the Jabalya refugee camp in the Gaza Strip and members of the Popular Resistance Committees.
The four had been arrested by Palestinian security forces several weeks ago and charged with manslaughter for planting bombs aimed at Israeli tanks that might also have hit the convoy. The U.S. had asked the PA after the attack to bring the perpetrators to justice.
However, U.S. diplomats and even Palestinian security sources questioned whether the men were the real culprits or convenient scapegoats. There had been some expectation that their arrest would deflect U.S. pressure on Palestinian investigators.
Some Palestinian officials said the real perpetrators of the October attack could be linked to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's own Fatah organization, or even to the security forces.
Palestinians security sources said the four arrested men appeared before a Palestinian judge Sunday who said there was not enough evidence to hold them and ordered them freed.
Soon after, dozens of relatives, friends and some militants gathered outside the prison to await their release. "I am so excited. I can't wait to see him coming out," said Safia Abu Laden, mother of one of the prisoners. "I give thanks to God that he answered my prayers to keep him safe and free him for his children."
The attack on the convoy was the first attack on a U.S. target in more than three years of Israeli-Palestinian fighting. In response, U.S. officials threatened to cut back aid and diplomatic travel to the Palestinian areas until the bombers are caught.
A day after the attack, Palestinian security forces in Gaza arrested seven members of the Popular Resistance Committees, an umbrella network of militant groups that have used powerful roadside bombs against Israeli tanks. Other members were arrested over time, but most of the suspects were subsequently released.
Some members of the militant group were waiting outside the jail for the release of the men.
The U.S. has offered a $5 million reward for information about the attackers. Palestinian security officials say no one has claimed the bounty.
http://www.dallasdancemusic.com/forums/images/smilies/angryfire.gif