Fatah protest in Gaza against Hamas turns violent

GAZA, Aug 24 (Reuters) Thousands of Palestinians loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas confronted gunmen from Hamas today in the biggest protest against the Islamic group since it seized power in Gaza in June.

Crowds of members and supporters of Abbas's Fatah group marched in Gaza City while dozens hurled stones at a security complex commandeered by Hamas's Executive Force during the violent takeover.

Drivers honked car horns and protesters were seen riding on the hood of vehicles. Hamas gunmen fired at protesters and reporters, witnesses said, but no injuries were reported.

Bullets peppered the front of a store.

There was no immediate comment from Hamas.

''Jihad, jihad! (Holy war),'' protesters chanted as they marched down the streets, applauding as others smashed an unmanned Hamas security post on the roadside.

Hamas security men detained three journalists, including a photographer from French news agency Agence France-Presse, witnesses said.

Others beat up a Reuters cameraman and tried to arrest him until protesters freed him by force. Hamas security men also smashed another journalist's television camera.

''The events today are a clear sign that Fatah did not vanish with the Hamas coup,'' a Fatah official told Reuters. ''People are against Hamas suppression of Fatah. Hamas thought it can eliminate Fatah -- they are wrong. Fatah is rising again''.

Fatah officials said Hamas had detained hundreds of their men since the Gaza takeover. More than 100 were still in prison and many had been tortured.

Hamas has said all arrests were non-political and only criminal charges were filed. It has also said Abbas's security forces had in turn detained up to 500 of its supporters in the West Bank, where the president still maintains control.

Several attempts to restart negotiations between the two factions have been unsuccessful. Abbas has fired the Hamas-led government in Gaza, formed after the Islamic group beat Fatah in a 2006 parliamentary election.

REUTERS PD VV1838