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Fatah militants storm parliament Fatah militants storm parliament
(about 1 hour later)
Hundreds of Fatah gunmen have stormed Hamas-controlled institutions in the West Bank, including the Palestinian parliament building in Ramallah. Fatah gunmen have stormed the Hamas-controlled Palestinian parliament building in Ramallah in the West Bank.
The gunmen reportedly tried to seize the Palestinian Legislative Council's second deputy speaker, Hassan Khuraishah, but staff intervened.The gunmen reportedly tried to seize the Palestinian Legislative Council's second deputy speaker, Hassan Khuraishah, but staff intervened.
Fatah supporters also took over the Hamas-controlled council in Nablus. Mr Khuraishah told the BBC he had been beaten up as he tried to prevent Fatah gunmen from raising their flag.
The clashes came after Fatah was ousted from Gaza by Hamas, ending a week of clashes which left more than 100 dead.The clashes came after Fatah was ousted from Gaza by Hamas, ending a week of clashes which left more than 100 dead.
The leader of Fatah, President Mahmoud Abbas is due to swear in an interim Prime Minister, Salam Fayyad, to lead an emergency government after his predecessor was dismissed. The leader of Fatah, President Mahmoud Abbas, is due to swear in an interim Prime Minister, Salam Fayyad, to lead an emergency government after his predecessor was dismissed.
The dismissed Prime Minister, Ismail Haniya, a Hamas leader, said the move was illegal, but called for people to show self-restraint and ordered police to ensure the rule of law.The dismissed Prime Minister, Ismail Haniya, a Hamas leader, said the move was illegal, but called for people to show self-restraint and ordered police to ensure the rule of law.
Earlier, the Arab League condemned the latest infighting in Gaza as "criminal" and pledged fresh support for Mr Abbas.Earlier, the Arab League condemned the latest infighting in Gaza as "criminal" and pledged fresh support for Mr Abbas.
FlagsFlags
In a show of strength, supporters of Mr Abbas' Fatah movement paraded around Ramallah and fired weapons into the air.In a show of strength, supporters of Mr Abbas' Fatah movement paraded around Ramallah and fired weapons into the air.
Residents of Ramallah worried over futureIn pictures
They chanted "Hamas out" outside the parliament and climbed onto the building's roof to plant Fatah and Palestinian flags.They chanted "Hamas out" outside the parliament and climbed onto the building's roof to plant Fatah and Palestinian flags.
Q&A: Gaza chaos How Hamas took over Gaza troubles Egypt's press
Later, they scuffled with officials after forcing their way into the office of one of the PLC's two deputy speakers and accusing him of being a Hamas supporter.Later, they scuffled with officials after forcing their way into the office of one of the PLC's two deputy speakers and accusing him of being a Hamas supporter.
Mr Khuraishah, an independent, had been trying to stop members of a Fatah-linked militant group, the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, hanging a flag inside the building.Mr Khuraishah, an independent, had been trying to stop members of a Fatah-linked militant group, the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, hanging a flag inside the building.
Other Fatah supporters ransacked the ministry of education, led by Hamas member Nasser Shair, although no-one was harmed in the attack.Other Fatah supporters ransacked the ministry of education, led by Hamas member Nasser Shair, although no-one was harmed in the attack.
In Ramallah, almost all Hamas politicians and prominent supporters have either fled or gone into hiding. Almost all Hamas politicians and prominent supporters in Ramallah have either fled or gone into hiding.
Meanwhile, Hamas has said the bodies of seven of its supporters have been found in a compound in Gaza City which had been used by pro-Fatah security forces. class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6754387.stm">Q&A: Gaza chaos class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6748621.stm">How Hamas took over class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6759425.stm">Gaza troubles Egypt's press
Fatah supporters also took over the Hamas-controlled legislative council in Nablus.
Hamas said the bodies of seven of its supporters had been found in a compound in Gaza City which had been used by pro-Fatah security forces.
The Islamist group said they had been kidnapped before being shot dead.The Islamist group said they had been kidnapped before being shot dead.
In Gaza City, Hamas members "sabotaged" the house of the late Palestinian president, Yasser Arafat, and took his personal belongings, the Wafa news agency reported.
The BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Ramallah says the political words may have become more conciliatory, but the actions on the ground have not.The BBC's Aleem Maqbool in Ramallah says the political words may have become more conciliatory, but the actions on the ground have not.
US support
Earlier, Mr Abbas held talks with the US consul-general in Jerusalem, Jacob Walles.
A senior Palestinian official said Mr Walles told President Abbas that the US would lift its ban on direct aid to the new Palestinian government after it was sworn in later on Saturday, Reuters news agency reported.
SALAM FAYYAD Born in 1952 near West Bank city of TulkarmHolds a PhD in economics from the University of TexasWorked at the World Bank in Washington from 1987-1995IMF representative to Palestine until 2001Finance minister under the Fatah-controlled administration from 2002-2005Credited with cracking down on official corruption Profile: Salam Fayyad Gazans tell of fears
A spokeswoman for the US state department said it was examining ways of helping a new Palestinian government, but that no decision had been made.
President Abbas dismissed Ismail Haniya's three-month-old unity government on Thursday and declared a state of emergency.
He said he would rule by presidential decree until the conditions were right for early elections.
His nominee to replace Mr Haniya, Mr Fayyad, is a former World Bank economist.
Western nations have boycotted Hamas, considered a terrorist organisation by the US and EU, since it won elections in January 2006.