Baton-wielding Hamas militia men beat their political rivals in the Gaza Strip on Monday as they tried to prevent them from holding a protest after the ruling party banned "nauthorizd"public gatherings. Mmbers of Hamas' Executive Force, the paramilitary group that has acted as police, shot into the air and beat demonstrators who had gathered in central Gaza City, AFP reported
The protesters refused to disperse and after about half an hour the Executive Force allowed the demonstration to continue, although it confiscated Fatah flags. "Hamas! What is happening in Gaza is not acceptable!" chanted the demonstrators. "What has happened to security and human rights? We want security!"
At least three people were detained by Hamas forces as a result of the clashes, AFP added. A journalist from Al-Arabiya television said that Executive Force members later raided the local offices of the Dubai-based station and confiscated videotapes of the scuffles. The Hamas force also prevented photographers from taking pictures and confiscated cameras from some of them.
Hamas had earlier announced it was banning demonstrations without its authorization in the territory it has ruled since June 25. "In the interest of the general public, to preserve security and with an eye to the law, all demonstrations are categorically forbidden without the official authorisation of the Executive Force," spokesman Saber al-Khalifa told AFP.
"This measure aims to preserve security and will guarantee that gunshots will not be fired. Above all, it will permit us to protect these demonstrations with our patrols," Khalifa conveyed.
President Abbas' office slammed the latest clampdown by Hamas. "Today Hamas is continuing its crimes after its coup d'etat in Gaza and is imposing a military rule in the Gaza Strip against all Palestinian factions, undermining law and freedom," said Ahmed Abdelrahman, an Abbas aide.
"Hamas is imposing a despotic rule by force, arms, repression and barbaric actions," he said, adding that the moves revealed Hamas's "true face and where they want to take the Palestinian people."
© 2007 Al Bawaba (http://www.albawaba.com/)
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