The Hamas-led government agreed Wednesday to withdraw a
controversial private militia from public areas of Gaza in an
agreement with the rival Fatah movement aimed at halting weeks of
bloody infighting.
The black-clad Hamas militia has been at the center of the power
struggle.
"They are going to be in places away from the public. They are
not going to be visible to people," said government spokesman Ghazi
Hamad. Under the arrangement, the militia is to be folded into the
official Palestinian police force, he said.
The agreement came after hours of talks mediated by Egyptian
diplomats and joined by Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, a top Hamas
official.
Hamas also agreed to withdraw the 3,000-member force from public
view last week. But within days, the gunmen returned to their
positions on the streets. After Wednesday's deal was announced, the
Hamas force remained in public view.
President Mahmoud Abbas, who leads Fatah, has been in a power
struggle with Hamas since the Islamic group beat his party in
legislative elections in January. The feud has revolved around
control of the security forces.
With most security forces loyal to Fatah, the Hamas government
deployed its private militia last month. Sixteen people have been
killed in fighting between the sides since the Hamas force was
activated.
Abbas has said the Hamas force is illegal but said it could be
folded into existing security agencies.
"In this meeting, we agreed to remove all things that can lead
to tensions in the Palestinians streets," said Abdel Hakim Awad, a
Fatah spokesman.
(Chinadaily.com via agencies June 8, 2006)
