Hamas detains Palestinian Authority attorney-general

GAZA, Aug 16 (Reuters) A Hamas-led security force detained today the Palestinian Authority-appointed attorney-general after he refused to cooperate with Hamas Islamists in charge of the Gaza Strip, a spokesman for the contingent said.

Ahmed al-Mghani, a supporter of President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah, was dismissed from his post as attorney-general yesterday by Youssef al-Mansi, the justice minister appointed by the Hamas administration running Gaza.

Islam Shahwan, a spokesman for Hamas's Executive Force, said Mghani had gone to the attorney-general's office on Thursday despite the dismissal order.

''Mghani confiscated files and tore up other files from the office and, therefore, there was an order from the government to take him into custody,'' Shahwan said.

Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in fighting in June against Fatah forces. Abbas then set up a West Bank-based government, shorn of Hamas and not recognised by the group.

Mghani's boycot of the Hamas administration in Gaza has crippled courts and prompted Hamas to recruit new prosecutors. Fatah officials in Ramallah said the Palestinian Authority would not recognise them.

REUTERS SV PM1825