Gunmen raid camp of loyal force to Abbas

GAZA, Dec 17: Unidentified gunmen today stormed a training camp in Gaza used by the presidential guard, a US-backed force loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, killing one of the officers, a security source said.

The attack was the first of its kind against the elite Palestinian force, made up of about 3,500 security men.

Hamas's armed wing was not immediately available for comment.

The Palestinian security source said dozens of gunmen raided the camp, set several tents ablaze and engaged in a gunbattle with several presidential guards, killing one of them. Several people from both sides were wounded, the source said.

Dozens of members of Abbas's force rushed to reinforce the guards inside the camp and the gunmen fled, he said. The gunmen had donned uniforms often used by Hamas militants, the source added.

Abbas yeterday called for parliamentary and presidential elections to be held as soon as possible. Hamas accused Abbas of launching a coup. Months of factional violence has raised fears of civil war.

Reuters