Officer loyal to Abbas killed after election call

GAZA, Dec 17 (Reuters) Gunmen killed an officer loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Gaza today, a day after Abbas called for new elections in a move that raised the stakes in his showdown with the ruling Islamist Hamas group.

The officer was killed during a dawn raid by masked men on a training camp in Gaza City used by Abbas's presidential guard, a 3,500-strong force backed by the United States.

Abu Ubaida, a spokesman for Hamas's armed wing, denied the group was behind the attack. ''This is a wrong and irresponsible accusation,'' he told Reuters.

Hamas has accused Abbas of attempting a coup after he announced plans yesterday for early presidential and parliamentary elections, an attempt to break months of deadlock and get international sanctions lifted.

Dozens of masked gunmen in uniforms similar to those worn by Hamas militants shot and wounded a guard at the entrance to the camp and then killed him at close range, a senior officer from the presidential guard told Reuters.

The gunmen then stormed the camp and set fire to dozens of tents and traded gunfire with several presidential guards stationed inside, wounding at least five of them.

Following months of factional violence that has raised fears of civil war, Abbas, the head of Fatah, said elections should be held as soon as possible but added that efforts to form a unity government should continue.

Hamas, which has a majority in parliament, said the president had no authority to call early elections.

Hamas legislators were expected to call a parliamentary vote on Sunday declaring Abbas's move illegal, but it was not clear if they would have the numbers to get the vote on the agenda.

BLAIR BACKS ABBAS Hamas, which is sworn to Israel's destruction, took office in March after beating the long-dominant Fatah in parliamentary elections, leading the United States and the European Union to cut financial aid to the Palestinian government.

Talks between Hamas and Fatah on forming a unity government have broken down repeatedly in recent months, mainly due to Hamas's refusal to change its stance toward Israel.

Washington welcomed yesterday's speech by Abbas. British Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is expected to meet Abbas in the coming days during a Middle East trip, said the international community should support the president.

Hamas has insisted it will never recognise the Jewish state, making it unclear how any unity government could get off the ground and also satisfy the West, which has demanded that Hamas recognise Israel, renounce violence and sign up to peace deals.

The Palestinian basic law, which acts as a constitution, has no provision for calling early elections. Fatah officials say Abbas can do so by issuing a presidential decree. Hamas says that would be illegal.

One senior Abbas aide said the polls might not be held until mid-2007 because of legal and technical factors. Abbas has previously said he would not stand for another term.

Even if elections were held, there is no guarantee Abbas and Fatah would win. Polls suggest Hamas's popularity has fallen little over the past nine months, despite the crisis. A new poll is to be released today.

Reuters SSC VV1444