MIDDLE EAST: Thousands of Palestinian security men stormed into the parliamentary compound in Gaza yesterday to demand unpaid salaries in a powerful challenge to the Hamas-led government.
Firing in the air, protesters smashed windows during the demonstration, the biggest held by members of the security forces since Hamas, an Islamic militant group, took power after winning a general election in January.
There were no reports of casualties.
Palestinian civil servants and security men have gone largely unpaid since international donors clamped sanctions on the government over Hamas's refusal to recognise Israel and renounce violence.
Government employees began an open-ended strike last Saturday to press their demands for wages. "Such a frozen policy can only be described as political stupidity," said Brig-Gen Ali al-Mghani, who took part in the protest.
"We urge Abu Mazen to make real changes in the parliament and the government, either through an early election, or a national unity government," Mr Mghani said, referring to president Mahmoud Abbas.
"This is a peaceful message, but if the situation continues there can be civil disobedience," the general said.
Hamas accused the Palestine Liberation Organisation's executive committee, controlled by Mr Abbas's Fatah faction, of organising the rally in a bid to weaken the government and win concessions ahead of talks with Hamas on a power-sharing administration.
"The government has paid several downpayments to the employees, or about half of what they were owed in salaries, despite scarce resources," Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said.
Threatening to begin an open-ended strike next Saturday, the Palestinian Physicians Union held a two-hour work stoppage yesterday.
It said doctors would still handle emergencies and births and care for chronically ill patients if a full strike was declared.