Police Storm (Palestinian) Parliament

[muriel_volestrangler]

Police have reportedly stormed into the Palestinian parliament compound.
...
Witnesses also said gunmen had climbed on to the roof of the parliament in Ramallah, which was not in session at the time.
...
The gunmen are said to be demanding the resignation of leaders of the Fatah movement.

The police are apparently protesting against any transfer of responsibility for security to Hamas.

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1210640,00.html

[maddezmom]

1. BBC has a live feed on now

Fatah gunmen scale building

[maddezmom]

3. more from AP here:

NABLUS, West Bank - Thousands of angry activists from the defeated Fatah Party demanded their leaders' resignations, Palestinian police stormed a parliament building in Gaza and other security forces clashed with Hamas gunmen — signs of growing instability following Hamas' victory in parliamentary election.

Fatah gunmen climbed on top of the Palestinian parliament building in Ramallah, fired in the air and posted a picture of the late leader Yasser Arafat on the roof to cheers and whistles from hundreds of supporters below. Dozens of armed police officers briefly stormed the building in Gaza City and demanded an immediate trial for Hamas members who killed police in fighting in recent months.

"Everybody should know that we are not going to allow the Interior Ministry to belong to Hamas," the police said, referring to the government body that controls the security forces.

Most of the 58,000 members of the security forces are allied with Fatah and fear for their jobs under a Hamas-led government. Hamas has its own armed force of about 5,000 gunmen in Gaza.



more:http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060128/ap_on_re_mi_ea/israel_palestinians;_

[rodeodance]

5. it is guns against guns over there right now.

"Everybody should know that we are not going to allow the Interior Ministry to belong to Hamas," the police said, referring to the government body that controls the security forces.

Most of the 58,000 members of the security forces are allied with Fatah and fear for their jobs under a Hamas-led government. Hamas has its own armed force of about 5,000 gunmen in Gaza.

[Boojatta]

6. Does anyone see a problem with the timing of this demand for a trial?

"Dozens of armed police officers briefly stormed the building in Gaza City and demanded an immediate trial for Hamas members who killed police in fighting in recent months."

[JCMach1]

2. Could this be a CIA or Mossad-backed coup?

Stay tuned...

[Colorado Blue]

15. Oh for pete's sake.

Why is everything in the world a CIA or Mossad backed coup, in the minds of certain individuals? This includes terror bombings even within Israel.

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. And sometimes, people are responsible for their own actions and this includes, believe it or not, Palestinians.

[Behind the Aegis]

16. I am guessing you haven't been following recent news.

The battle between Fatah and Hamas is not new.

[saigon68]

4. THIS WHOLE MESS IS GOING TO END VERY BADLY

Remember "FREEDOM IS ON THE MARCH"

[AlecBGreen]

7. *shudder*

I get the shivers every time I hear Bush say that.

[IndianaGreen]

13. It is easier to send a suicide bomber into an Israeli pizzeria

than to provide governance to a population.

Fatah leaders are nothing but leeches that have enriched themselves at the expense of the people they claim to represent. Hamas has provided social services to their people in the hope of one day replacing Fatah as the leeches that enrich themselves.

[applegrove]

8. Could it be the police just want to stop the gunman from killing people?

[librechik]

9. yes indeed--sensible question--still, a very explosive situation

such a lot of trouble from such a tiny area on the globe

[janx]

10. CNN is supposed to be having a report from Gaza

in a few minutes; we'll see if the reporter knows or says anything about this.

[hatrack]

11. Well, this is sliding down the greased chute to Hell . . .

And it's sliding at even greater speed than I thought likely.

[IndianaGreen]

12. The police are from Fatah

once Hamas consolidates its power they will replace the Fatah policemen with Hamas policemen. This is nothing more than a fight for territory that we have seen between gangs in our own country.

[Igel]

14. Indeed. n/t