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Fatah gunmen raid poll office in central Gaza

Masked Fatah gunmen burst into Palestinian election office in central Gaza forcing it to close.

  • Agencies
  • Published: 00:00 December 12, 2005
  • Gulf News

Gaza City, Gaza Strip: Masked Fatah gunmen, protesting the ruling party's plan to appoint candidates for an upcoming election, burst into the Palestinian election office , forcing it to close.

About 10 masked gunmen from the Al Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, burst into the office in Deir Al Balah on Monday morning and forced the officials there to leave, witnesses and election officials said.

The gunmen said they wanted their candidates chosen in a primary.

The raid, the third such attack in recent days, highlighted the continuing chaos in Palestinian political life and the tension between Fatah's old guard and the younger, more popular leaders.

The veteran leaders are reluctant to give up power, while the party's younger, more popular leaders are demanding senior positions and a transparent primary to rejuvenate the party.

Fatah officials said they had not yet finalised their candidate list and were still debating who to appoint.

Parties must submit their candidate lists for the January 25 parliamentary vote by Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei denied there was tension in the party.

"There is no such disagreement. Who is saying that? All we want is a list that will garner our people's support," he said.

A new poll on Sunday showed the ruling Fatah party capturing 50 per cent of the vote in the January parliamentary elections and Hamas, running in national elections for the first time, winning 32 percent.

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