Fatah storms Hamas buildings

Hundreds of Fatah gunmen on Saturday stormed Hamas-controlled institutions in the West Bank, including Parliament and government ministries..

Hundreds of Fatah gunmen on Saturday stormed Hamas-controlled institutions in the West Bank, including Parliament and government ministries, and told employees that those with ties to Hamas will not be allowed to return.

Meanwhile, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met Jacob Welles, the US consul-general in Jerusalem, his office said.

An aide to Abbas, Abed Rabbo, said an emergency government would be sworn in by Sunday noon, and would consist of just a few ministers. Abbas dissolved the Hamas-Fatah coalition on Friday, deposed Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh and appointed Finance Minister Salam Fayyad in his place. Hamas responded by saying that any government which is not approved first by the Parliament, is unconstitutional.

The US has told Abbas that the international aid embargo against Palestinine will be lifted as soon as he forms a new government without Hamas, his aides added.

At the parliament, the Fatah supporters chanted, 8220;Hamas out8221;, climbed on the roof and planted Fatah and Palestinian flags on the building. Fatah gunmen entered the office of Deputy Speaker Hassan Kreisheh and tried to grab him, but Fatah employees stopped them. Other Fatah activists took over the Education Ministry and the prime minister8217;s office.

Many government employees tied to Hamas did not show up for work on Saturday, the start of the work week in the West Bank.

A member of the Al Aqsa Martyrs8217; Brigades, a violent offshoot of Fatah, said his group planned to take control of all Hamas institutions in response to Hamas8217; takeover of Gaza.

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In the West Bank city of Nablus, Fatah gunmen took over the Hamas-controlled city council and planted their flag in the building. Fatah supporters also kidnapped seven Hamas supporters, and deposed a senior member of the Religious Affairs Ministry.

And in Hebron, another West Bank city, Fatah gunmen took over offices of the Education Ministry and the Interior Ministry, warning Hamas-allied employees not to return to work, Al Aqsa members said.

Through the day, hundreds of Palestinians looted Palestinian police positions at the Erez crossing into Israel, drawing Israeli warning fire, witnesses said.