GAZA: Palestinian gunmen storm Palestinian official news agency office

Unknown gunmen stormed an office of the Palestinian official news agency WAFA on Tuesday (September 19, 2006) smashing a computer and sabotaging equipment, witnesses said. Witnesses said gunmen attacked the lone employee who was present in the office in Khan Younis in southern Gaza Strip who later taken to hospital. Desks and computers were thrown around the new agencies office, no one has claimed responsibility for the attack Hamas has repeatedly criticised Palestinian official media controlled by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of incitement against the Hamas-led government. Meanwhile in Gaza city, Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh met with representatives of various Palestinian factions to continue discussions on a unity government. Hamas spokesman, Mushir Al-Masri addressed the issue of united government and said: "We believe that there is a source trying to poison the political issues and trying to damage the purity of the political unity that aims on forming a united government. (They are trying) to place this government in a bad position (making it look like it is) contradicting itself but we assure that every step is taken in order to have political unification that is agreeable with the government and the leaders. And I believe that the issue of forming a united government is very close." Al-Masri said. Seeking to resolve their differences and lift Western sanctions, the moderate Abbas and Haniyeh last week announced plans to form a unity government. But bickering has since broken out, with Abbas freezing talks after accusing Hamas of reneging on a deal he says includes accepting interim peace accords with the Jewish state. The United States also said the terms of the unity government did not go far enough in recognising Israel and renouncing violence. Hamas has said talks were only on hold while Abbas attended U.N. meetings in New York, insisting it would abide by the deals if they were in the interest of the Palestinian people.

ITN Source | September 19, 2006

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