Hamas rallies supporters against Fatah strongman

GAZA, Jan 12 (Reuters) Thousands of Hamas supporters poured into the streets of the Gaza Strip after Friday prayers to denounce one of Fatah's most powerful leaders, ratcheting up tensions between the rival Palestinian factions.

Both the ruling Hamas movement and once-dominant Fatah have mounted large rallies in Gaza and the occupied West Bank in recent days, trying to whip up public support and project strength amid the mounting internal violence.

Hamas supporters emerged from mosques today waving green Hamas flags and chanted slogans accusing Mohammad Dahlan, a Fatah strongman and possible successor to President Mahmoud Abbas, of being the mastermind of a ''coup'' against its nine-month-old government.

''Dahlan is a traitor,'' they chanted.

Hamas accused Dahlan in December of masterminding a plot to kill Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, a charge Dahlan denied.

Tawfiq Abu Khoussa, a Fatah spokesman, accused Hamas of trying to spark more fighting. ''We urge Hamas to return to its senses before it is too late,'' he said.

At least 30 Palestinians have been killed in factional fighting since Abbas called last month for early elections to try to break a deadlock with Hamas.

The Islamic militant group, whose charter calls for Israel's destruction, took control of the Palestinian government in March after beating Fatah in parliamentary elections.

CLOSE TIES Three Palestinians were injured in fighting today between the rival groups.

''Listen Dahlan, our ideal is the Prophet Mohammad and not Olmert and Bush,'' Hamas supporters chanted, referring to Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and US President George W Bush.

''Listen Dahlan, our choice is Jihad. It is not treason.'' Dahlan has close ties to Washington and is expected to be among the Palestinian officials to meet US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice during her visit to the region, starting tomorrow.

Abbas has chosen Dahlan to serve as security adviser, Palestinian officials said.

Dahlan is one of the few Palestinian officials that Israel allows to pass back and forth between Gaza and the West Bank using the Erez crossing.

Gaza residents said today that policemen clashed with gunmen after dawn near Erez after a tunnel was discovered under the main road. Fatah accused Hamas of digging the tunnel and of planning to use it to carry out an attack.

The United States plans to provide Abbas with more than 86 million dollar to help train and equip his presidential guard, stepping up Washington's involvement in the power struggle.

Haniyeh accused the United States was pushing ''an old colonial policy of divide and rule''.

The anti-Dahlan marches in Gaza on Friday came a day after thousands of Palestinians attended a pro-Fatah rally in the West Bank yesterday.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians filled Gaza's main stadium for a pro-Dahlan rally last Sunday in which the Fatah leader sharply criticised Hamas.

A Palestinian official close to Dahlan said today's rally would backfire on Hamas by boosting Dahlan's standing.

''Every accusation by Hamas against Dahlan reinforces his status ... and lobbies Fatah around him,'' the official said.

REUTERS SP RN2036