Palestinian PM unhurt after attack on convoy

GAZA, Oct 20 (Reuters) Unidentified gunmen opened fire on security vehicles escorting Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh's convoy through Gaza today, but the Hamas leader was unhurt, officials from the Islamist movement said.

Officials in Haniyeh's office said the attack did not appear to be an assassination attempt, but it comes at a time of growing tensions between rival Palestinian factions that have sparked fears of civil war.

''The prime minister is alright and he is out of the area which witnessed the gunfire. His car was not attacked,'' one official in Haniyeh's office said.

Officials said gunfire hit vehicles of a Hamas-led police force that was behind cars carrying Haniyeh, who had just finished a speech at a mosque. One of the vehicles was set alight.

Hamas security officials returned fire, officials said. It was unclear if anyone was hurt or who was behind the attack.

At least 19 people have been killed this month in violence between Hamas and President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction.

During his speech to worshippers, Haniyeh said he would reject any moves by Abbas to oust his government, setting the rival leaders on a collision course.

Abbas has hinted he might fire the Hamas government after efforts to form a unity cabinet foundered over the Islamist movement's refusal to soften its stance toward Israel.

APPROVAL OF PARLIAMENT Haniyeh said it would be pointless for Abbas to fire the government, suggesting any emergency administration the president appointed would not get the ultimate approval of parliament, where Hamas has an absolute majority.

He also said Hamas would reject other measures such as calling early elections.

''All you have here are options that have no aim but to remove Hamas from government. The wheel of history will not go backward,'' Haniyeh said.

''All these options will not achieve stability and calm and will not represent a way out of the crisis.'' Haniyeh did not threaten explicit action to oppose Abbas, such as calling Hamas supporters out onto the streets.

Abbas, a moderate who seeks a negotiated peace with Israel, said this week he had to make a decision soon on the government's fate.

Hamas seeks to destroy the Jewish state.

The president has not explicitly identified his options but his aides have said he might call fresh elections, appoint an emergency cabinet or hold a referendum to let the Palestinian people decide what to do.

A senior Abbas aide told Reuters on Thursday the president was expected to make his decision several days after the Eid al-Fitr holiday, which marks the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

Eid this year falls around October 23.

Hamas took power after scoring a surprise win over Fatah in parliamentary elections in January.

Palestinians had hoped a unity government would lead to a lifting of crippling Western sanctions that were imposed on Hamas when it assumed office in March for refusing to recognise Israel and renounce violence.

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