Middle East News
Palestinian Authority denies helping US bolster Abbas forces
May 20, 2007, 13:52 GMT
Ramallah - The Palestinian presidency denied Sunday Israeli reports that the Palestinian Authority (PA) was participating in US- led efforts to bolster forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas of the Fatah movement.
Spokesman Nabil Abu Rudaina made the denial after Israel's Haaretz daily reported that the US was pressing Israel to help boost Abbas' forces that were engaged in six days of fighting against rival Hamas Islamists in the Gaza Strip.
'These reports are part of the Israeli attempts to keep Gaza tense, especially after we reached a ceasefire deal,' Abu Rudaina said.
Hamas and Fatah were abiding by the fifth ceasefire they reached Saturday in response to Egyptian efforts. The six-day battles between the two sides left up to 55 people dead.
Militants belonging to the security agencies loyal to Fatah, which shares power in a unity government with Hamas, were involved in the fighting against Hamas' military wing and the Hamas police force.
Hamas has issued a statement saying that it lost 22 members in the fighting.
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
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