Palestinian ceasefire given fighting chance

Dec 18, 2006

GAZA CITY - A shaky ceasefire took effect yesterday between Palestinian rivals Hamas and Fatah after days of heavy fighting pushed the Gaza Strip to the brink of civil war.

It was unclear whether the truce would last as groups of heavily armed gunmen from both sides continued to roam the tense streets of the impoverished coastal strip.

Fighting escalated after President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah on Sunday called for fresh presidential and parliamentary elections, a move intended to break political deadlock with the Hamas Government and lift Western sanctions on its administration. Hamas, which surprised the once dominant Fatah to win January elections, said it would boycott new polls.

Sporadic exchanges of fire followed overnight, including an incident in which two members of a Hamas-led police force were wounded moments after the agreement was announced. Previous deals to end internal fighting this year have fallen apart.

But yesterday forces loyal to Hamas and Fatah fought street and rooftop gunbattles across Gaza. Gunmen also fired mortars at Abbas' offices while his forces seized two Hamas ministries.

Abbas was not in Gaza at the time.

At least three people were killed and 20 wounded.

The two factions had tried for months to form a unity government to end a bitter power struggle, but talks foundered, partly over Hamas' insistence on not recognising Israel.

The ceasefire deal followed heated accusations by Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar, a senior Hamas leader, that Abbas' security men had launched a "military coup" against the Hamas Government in Gaza.

The chaos on the streets has spiralled since Zahar's motorcade came under fire last week as it drove near the Foreign Ministry in Gaza City, unknown gunmen killing the three young sons of a Fatah-allied security chief.

His motorcade came under attack again yesterday, unleashing a ferocious gunbattle that raged for more than an hour in the worst fighting since unity government talks broke down last month.

Medical officials said a 19-year-old woman was killed in the crossfire.

Zahar said top Fatah leaders were "fully responsible" for the attack on him "and what will happen".

In a separate attack blamed on Hamas, dozens of gunmen raided a training camp of Abbas' Presidential Guard near the President's residence, killing a member of the elite force.

Hamas gunmen also opened fire at a demonstration attended by tens of thousands of Fatah supporters in northern Gaza, wounding at least one person.

The truce calls for the rival factions to pull back their fighters and release men abducted by each side.

It also calls for Abbas' security forces to end a day-long siege of the two Hamas-led Government ministries.

Fatah said the agreement did not call for a resumption of stalled unity government talks, as asserted by Hamas, which took control of the Palestinian Authority in March.

Abbas has said early elections should be held as soon as possible.

But he also said efforts to form a unity government should continue.

The Palestinian basic law, which acts as a constitution, has no provision for early elections.

Fatah says Abbas can call them through a presidential decree.

Hamas says that would be illegal.

Hamas has insisted it will never recognise the Jewish state, making it unclear how any unity government could get off the ground and satisfy Western powers.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair, on a drive to revive Middle East peace negotiations, arrived in Israel just before Hamas and Fatah announced the deal.

He will hold talks today with Abbas in the occupied West Bank and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in Jerusalem.

Blair is expected to discuss with Abbas ways to expand a European aid programme for the Palestinians that bypasses the Government.

Blair has set great store on reviving Middle East peacemaking before he leaves office next year.

Israeli-Palestinian peace talkscollapsed six years ago and the prospect for restarting negotiations dimmed further when Hamas took office.

The movement seeks Israel's destruction.

MANPOWER AND MIGHT - HOW THE OPPOSING SIDES STACK UP

Presidential guard

With US backing, President Mahmoud Abbas's elite presidential guard has grown to at least 4000 men, up from 2500 members when Hamas took power in March. The US wants to expand it to 4700. Palestinian officials aim for 10,000. European states have committed non-lethal equipment to the guard. The US has helped organise shipments of guns and ammunition from Egypt and Jordan and plans to provide millions in direct support. The US and Israel have backed an Abbas plan to let 1000 members of the Badr Brigade, a Fatah force based in Jordan, into the Palestinian territories.

Intelligence, security forces

Under Abbas's control, General Intelligence has 5000 members. Fatah has accused Hamas of killing several of the unit's leaders in recent months. National Security Forces under Abbas's direct command include military intelligence and the naval police. Not as well-equipped as the guard but have 30,000 members.

Hamas' executive force

First deployed by the Hamas-led Government on the streets of Gaza in May, Hamas says its "Executive Force" has grown from 3000 to 6000. The force is built mostly from members of the Hamas armed wing, the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, but it includes some members from allied militant factions such as the Popular Resistance Committees. Well equipped.

Police and preventive security

Fall under the jurisdiction of the Hamas-controlled Interior Ministry. But they are dominated by Fatah loyalists and Hamas has struggled to exert control. Their total strength is estimated at about 30,000.

- REUTERS, AGENCIES