Hamas briefly detains PA attorney-general

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

Ahmed al-Mghani, a supporter of President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah, was dismissed from his post as attorney-general on Wednesday 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 today 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.

Mghani, who was held for several hours and released, denied he destroyed or took files.

''What happened was so shameful. They (the Hamas force) stormed the headquarters of the general prosecution service in a brutal manner. They were heavily armed and they escorted me to the main security complex,'' Mghani told Reuters.

He said the Executive Force asked him to sign a paper pledging to remain in Gaza and not to resume his duties or incite against Hamas in the media.

''As attorney-general I do not incite against people. I tell facts and therefore, I refused to sign it and was released,'' Mghani said, terming Hamas's decision to dismiss him as illegal.

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

''This is definitely another act in which Hamas in Gaza engaged in irresponsible behaviour. It's linked to a long chain of violations,'' Fayyad said.

Mghani's boycott 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.

Hamas security forces tomorrow ended a two-day siege of a prominent Gaza clan that had killed two Hamas members.

Hamas sources said the siege ended with 50 gunmen turning in their weapons and the arrest of five members of the Doghmosh clan. Some members of the clan had been involved in the abduction of British journalist Alan Johnston.

Reuters sz vp0128