Palestinian workers vow to step up protests

RAMALLAH, West Bank, June 15 (Reuters) Palestinian government workers vowed today to step up protests to demand overdue wages from the Hamas-led administration, a day after storming parliament in a show of anger.

A Western aid boycott since the Islamist militant group came to power in March has prevented the new government from paying its workers, leaving many struggling to feed their families.

The protests are also a sign of the power struggle between Hamas and President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah. The government employees' union estimates that 60 percent belong to Fatah, which lost elections in January.

Union chief Bassam Zakarneh compared the growing protests to the Intifada uprising against Israel. ''The hunger intifada has begun,'' Zakarneh told Reuters. ''Hungry government workers will escalate protests throughout the country next week. Patience has limits and things are already getting out of control.'' Government employees planned a three-hour strike on Thursday.

Western aid to the Palestinian Authority has been suspended to try and push Hamas into recognising Israel's right to exist, renouncing violence and accepting peace accords.

Hamas has refused to bow to the pressure and appealed to Palestinians to show patience.

''We understand the suffering of the people,'' said government spokesman Ghazi Hamad.

''But the chaotic way people are protesting is rejected. This only creates further crisis for the government and we believe such acts by some of these people are carried out on behalf of certain parties.'' Hamas accuses Fatah of orchestrating the protests as part of an attempt to bring down the government.

They suspect Abbas of trying to undermine their rule by calling a referendum for July 26 on a plan that implicitly recognises Israel by proposing two states living side-by-side. Hamas is formally committed to destroying Israel.

Abbas says the referendum could help bring about the end of the aid boycott.

Yesterday, protesters interrupted a parliamentary session in Ramallah. They climbed on top of lawmakers' desks, throwing paper and water bottles.

Protesters demand to know what Hamas has done with millions of dollars it has brought into the Gaza Strip from sympathisers abroad.

Foreign Minister Mahmoud al-Zahar brought in 20 million dollars yesterday, Palestinian officials said.

Protesters scorn appeals from the government for patience.

''Patience? Until when? There is no hope for change,'' said protester Wael Mahmoud, a government employee.

REUTERS CH VV1611