ABBAS SACKS HAMAS-LED GOVERNMENT !
Hamas quickly rejected Abbas' plans, calling them "worthless". Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has dismissed the Hamas-led coalition government and declared a state of emergency.
Aides said the president would seek to call elections as soon as possible, after deadly clashes in the Gaza Strip.
However, a Hamas spokesman immediately dismissed the president's decision.
After a day of bitter fighting Hamas was said to be in total control of Gaza, having now also taken the presidential compound in Gaza City.
More than 100 people have died during a week of violent battles on the streets of Gaza.
Hamas fighters overran most of Gaza throughout Thursday, capturing the headquarters of Fatah's Preventative Security force and hailing Gaza's "liberation".
What is happening now is not only the collapse of the Palestinian national unity government but actually the collapse of the whole Palestinian Authority -Mustafa Barghouti, Palestinian Information Minister.
Aides said the president would seek to call elections as soon as possible, after deadly clashes in the Gaza Strip.
However, a Hamas spokesman immediately dismissed the president's decision.
After a day of bitter fighting Hamas was said to be in total control of Gaza, having now also taken the presidential compound in Gaza City.
More than 100 people have died during a week of violent battles on the streets of Gaza.
Hamas fighters overran most of Gaza throughout Thursday, capturing the headquarters of Fatah's Preventative Security force and hailing Gaza's "liberation".
What is happening now is not only the collapse of the Palestinian national unity government but actually the collapse of the whole Palestinian Authority -Mustafa Barghouti, Palestinian Information Minister.
Q&A: Gaza chaos
After nightfall militants entered Mr Abbas' presidential compound, which had been left undefended when Fatah men slipped away earlier.
Hamas celebrated the capture of the compound, describing it as the "last bastion" of Fatah's power in Gaza.
Palestinian Information Minister Mustafa Barghouti said Hamas was in total control of Gaza, adding that the crisis had wider implications.
"What is happening now is not only the collapse of the Palestinian national unity government but actually the collapse of the whole Palestinian Authority," he told the BBC.
'Outlaws'
After dismissing the government, Mr Abbas will now rule by presidential decree until the conditions are right for elections, a senior aide announced.
The BBC's Matthew Price in Jerusalem says the West Bank and Gaza Strip will now effectively be split from one another - Gaza run by Hamas and the West Bank by Fatah.
An aide to Mr Abbas, Tayeb Abdel Rahim, announced the president's decision in the West Bank town of Ramallah.
In practical terms these decisions are worthless - Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas spokesman.
Hamas celebrated the capture of the compound, describing it as the "last bastion" of Fatah's power in Gaza.
Palestinian Information Minister Mustafa Barghouti said Hamas was in total control of Gaza, adding that the crisis had wider implications.
"What is happening now is not only the collapse of the Palestinian national unity government but actually the collapse of the whole Palestinian Authority," he told the BBC.
'Outlaws'
After dismissing the government, Mr Abbas will now rule by presidential decree until the conditions are right for elections, a senior aide announced.
The BBC's Matthew Price in Jerusalem says the West Bank and Gaza Strip will now effectively be split from one another - Gaza run by Hamas and the West Bank by Fatah.
An aide to Mr Abbas, Tayeb Abdel Rahim, announced the president's decision in the West Bank town of Ramallah.
In practical terms these decisions are worthless - Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas spokesman.
Rivals: Fatah and Hamas
Voices: Life under Hamas
"I [Abbas] have issued the following decree: the sacking of Prime Minister Ismail Haniya," AFP news agency quoted him as saying.
"Second, the proclamation of the state of emergency in all the Palestinian territories because of the criminal war in the Gaza Strip, the taking over of the security services of the Palestinian Authority, the military coup and the armed rebellion by outlaws."
Mr Abbas was also open to the idea of an international peacekeeping force being deployed in the region, his aide said.
But Hamas swiftly rejected Mr Abbas' decision.
"In practical terms these decisions are worthless," said spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri.
"Prime Minister Haniya remains the head of the government even if it was dissolved by the president," he told Reuters news agency.
Hamas won a surprise victory in Palestinian elections in early 2006, but has since been engaged in a violent power struggle with Mr Abbas' Fatah faction.
Hamas, an Islamic organisation, rose to prominence in Gaza during two Palestinian uprisings and refuses to recognise or negotiate with Israel.
Fatah, a secular political grouping headed by Mr Abbas, ran the Palestinian Authority until 2006 and officially recognises the Jewish state.
The two groups were nominally working together in a three-month-old government of national unity.
BBC NEWS REPORT.
"Second, the proclamation of the state of emergency in all the Palestinian territories because of the criminal war in the Gaza Strip, the taking over of the security services of the Palestinian Authority, the military coup and the armed rebellion by outlaws."
Mr Abbas was also open to the idea of an international peacekeeping force being deployed in the region, his aide said.
But Hamas swiftly rejected Mr Abbas' decision.
"In practical terms these decisions are worthless," said spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri.
"Prime Minister Haniya remains the head of the government even if it was dissolved by the president," he told Reuters news agency.
Hamas won a surprise victory in Palestinian elections in early 2006, but has since been engaged in a violent power struggle with Mr Abbas' Fatah faction.
Hamas, an Islamic organisation, rose to prominence in Gaza during two Palestinian uprisings and refuses to recognise or negotiate with Israel.
Fatah, a secular political grouping headed by Mr Abbas, ran the Palestinian Authority until 2006 and officially recognises the Jewish state.
The two groups were nominally working together in a three-month-old government of national unity.
posted by jackaranda at 10:56 pm
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