Fatah takeover in Rafah, damage from missile attacks скачать в хорошем качестве

Fatah takeover in Rafah, damage from missile attacks

(4 Jan 2006) Rafah, southern Gaza Strip 1. Wide shot of Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades militants standing on roof top of Central Election Commission building 2. Masked gunmen standing on Central Election Commission's balcony 3. Palestinian police standing outside Central Election Commission 4. Palestinian police standing outside Central Election Commission building 5. Various of masked, armed militants standing inside office of Central Election Commission 6. Pan from poster saying "no weapons allowed" to militants Beit Hannoun, northern Gaza Strip 7. Cars driving by side of road rocketed by Israelis 8. Men examining damage to side of road 9. Close up of crack in the ground 10. Various of damaged to side of road STORYLINE: Palestinian gunmen with ties to the ruling Fatah faction stormed an election building and a local parliamentary office in the southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday, forcing most of the workers to flee, election officials and witnesses said. About 40 gunmen from the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades entered the building in the town of Rafah while firing in the air, the officials and witnesses said. The gunmen also took over a local parliament office, witnesses said. The gunmen, loyal to Alaa al-Hams, a militant arrested late on Tuesday by Palestinian police who suspect he was involved in the kidnapping last week of three British citizens, occupied the building. Most of the election officials fled, but some remained in the building. Gaza gunmen have been taking over government buildings and kidnapping foreigners almost daily, demanding jobs and sometimes the release of prisoners. The gunmen who took over the Rafah election office did not immediately demand the release of al-Hams, witnesses said. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas - facing a serious electoral challenge by the Islamic Hamas group in a Jan. 25 parliamentary election - has failed to rein in lawlessness and has been reluctant to confront militants. Palestinians are increasingly angered by the chaos that has engulfed Gaza and parts of the West Bank. British aid worker Kate Burton and her parents were held for two days by Gaza gunmen last week. Other foreigners and foreign journalists have also been kidnapped in Gaza recently, and many countries have warned their citizens not to travel to the coastal area. Late on Tuesday morning a rocket fired from Gaza hit a gas station in the Israeli town of Sderot, causing light damage but no casualties. Palestinian militants frequently fire home-made rockets at the town, less than two kilometres (one mile) from the fence between Gaza and Israel. Israel has declared a no-go zone near the fence to try to stop the barrages. Israel responded to the rocket fire with artillery barrages aimed at the areas where the militants launched the rockets, the military and witnesses said. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...