Fatah activists in violent protest against leadership

Thousands of Fatah activists burned cars and shot in the air in the Palestinian Territories this evening, demanding the resignation…

Thousands of Fatah activists burned cars and shot in the air in the Palestinian Territories this evening, demanding the resignation of corrupt party officials following the party's crushing election defeat to the militant Hamas movement.

They also clashed with Hamas supporters at a number of flashpoints and at least three people were wounded in an armed clash near the city of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

Demonstrators insisted that Fatah form no coalition with Hamas - a position already accepted by the party's leadership.

About 1,000 angry activists, including 100 gunmen, drove by President Mahmoud Abbas' Gaza residence. Mr Abbas, who is a Fatah member, was in the West Bank town of Ramallah at the time.

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Yesterday's election defeat was seen as a rebuke to veteran leaders who have long been regarded as corrupt and have resisted the efforts of younger reformers.

"This demonstration is a natural reaction of Fatah supporters and members. We have one demand that the [Fatah] Central Committee and the Revolutionary Council should resign immediately," said Samir Mashrawi, a local Fatah leader defeated in the election.

The demonstrators, however, did not specifically call for Mr Abbas' resignation.

Agencies