Gunmen take over parliament building, EU office in Gaza

[Behind the Aegis]

Palestinian police, angry at Hamas' election victory, took over the parliament building in Gaza on Monday, firing in the air, witnesses said.

About 30 policemen entered the parliamentary compound, which police had briefly occupied on Saturday. Some took up positions on the roof and on top of a nearby building, the witnesses said.

Many policemen, loyal to PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah, fear control of the Palestinian security force will be transferred to Hamas, an Islamic militant group that swept to victory over the long-dominant faction in a parliamentary election last week.

There were no reports of casualties in the latest move into the parliamentary complex in Gaza City.

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[DoYouEverWonder]

1. We'll I hope you're happy

what a mess.

[Behind the Aegis]

3. huh?

[saltpoint]

2. This has the potential of disrupting Dubya's SOTU address Tuesday

and reinforcing the image he has with the world as a beanmesh-for-brains pseudo-cowboy.

While Dubya's crowing about "bringin' democracy to the Middle East," Hamas and Fatah could be shooting at each other big time.

And a filibuster on the Alito nomination would be a nice cherry on top, too.

[saigon68]

8. " FREEDOM IS ON THE MARCH" "™"

Favorite comeback of the Awol Chimp

[greyl]

4. This may be prelude to a more heated civil war.

It doesn't look good, does it?

[Ian David]

5. They'll be fine. All they do is throw harmless little rocks. n/t

[matcom]

6. Suck it up Fatah

stop trying to thwart the Democratic process. The people have spoken. Get out of the way

[Copperred]

9. Agreed.

[LosinIt]

7. Probably what the Republicans will do when we take back the House, the

Senate, and the White House. They're probably taking notes.

[On the Road]

10. Bush May Have Quietly Supported This

As he was speaking about the Hamas victory, I heard him say: "I would like to see him (Abbas) remain in power." It was a really odd moment -- less like wishful thinking and more like a hope that the Pal. Auth. would repudiate the election results. Who knows what the hell kind of back room deal there is with Fatah?