GAZA CITY, Dec 15, 2006 (AFP) - Hundreds of gunmen from the ruling Islamist Hamas movement were patrolling the streets of Gaza City after an attack on Palestinian prime minister Ismail Haniya's convoy.

The masked gunmen took up positions along the coastal city's central thoroughfares, brandishing AK-47s and shoulder-fired anti-tank rockets, an AFP journalist said.

The move follows accusations by Hamas that its Fatah rivals tried to assassinate Haniya as the Hamas leader's convoy into Gaza after a regional fundraising tour.

Hamas has accused Fatah strongman and archfoe Mohammad Dahlan of orchestrating the bid on Haniya's life.

One of Haniya's bodyguards was killed and five people wounded, including his son, when gunmen opened fire on Haniya's convoy in the Thursday night attack.

©2006 AFP All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed. All reproduction or redistribution is expressly forbidden without the prior written agreement of AFP.

top