WEST BANK: Policeman killed in clash between Hamas and Abbas forces

Record ID: 561655

  • Title: WEST BANK: Policeman killed in clash between Hamas and Abbas forces
  • Date: 5th June 2009
  • Summary: QALQILYA, WEST BANK (JUNE 4, 2009) (REUTERS) PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY'S SECURITY FORCES SURROUNDING A HOUSE WHERE HAMAS MEN ARE STAYING PALESTINIAN POLICE OFFICER CARRYING MEGAPHONE, AND CALLING THE HAMAS MEMBERS TO SURRENDER PALESTINIAN SECURITY MAN WALKING WITH THE MOTHER OF ONE OF THE HAMAS MEMBERS WHO IS INSIDE THE BUILDING SECURITY MEN WITH THE MOTHER OF HAMAS MEMBER, ALA' DIAB INSIDE BUILDING SECURITY MEN INSIDE BUILDING WITH OTHER CIVILIANS/ PEOPLE RUNNING, AUDIO: GUNFIRE SECURITY MAN STANDING NEAR HAMAS MILITANT ALA' DIAB'S MOTHER, AND CARRYING MEGAPHONE CALLING HIM TO SURRENDER SECURITY IN STREETS, AUDIO: GUNFIRE SMOKE RISING FROM AREA WHERE HAMAS AND PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY'S SECURITY FORCES CLASH JOURNALISTS HIDING/ SECURITY MEN SURROUNDING BUILDING
  • Embargoed: 20th June 2009 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Reuters ID: LVAEIZ4GM71VZ9CQGQG2GG0NKCLM
  • Story Text: Palestinians security forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas raid a Hamas hideout in the West Bank.
    A policeman was killed on Thursday (June 4) when Palestinian forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas mounted a raid in the West Bank to arrest Hamas militants, the second such operation in the past week.
    The raids, in the city of Qalqilya, appeared to be an effort by Abbas to show the United States that he was carrying out the Palestinian Authority's security commitments under a 2003 U.S.-backed peace "road map".
    Adnan Damiri, spokesman for the security forces, said a gun battle erupted after policemen encircled a house where three Hamas gunmen were holed up. He said policemen were calling on the gunmen to surrender.
    Six Palestinians -- two Hamas militants, three policemen and a bystander -- were killed in Qalqilya on Sunday.
    The Western-backed Abbas launched a U.S.-backed security drive in the West Bank and revived peace talks with Israel in 2007 after breaking with Hamas over the Islamist group's takeover of the Gaza Strip.
    Hamas has threatened to pull out of Egyptian-sponsored reconciliation talks with Fatah unless Abbas stopped targeting its activists in the West Bank. The talks are scheduled to resume in Cairo in July.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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