Hamas abandons talks with Palestinian PM
The Palestinian militant group Hamas has broken off talks with recently elected Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas.
Mr Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen, pledged this week to bring an end to the Palestinian uprising.
He made the promise after peace talks with US President George W Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in Jordan.
Mr Abbas declared there was ‘no military solution to our conflict. We repeat our denunciation and renunciation of terrorism and violence against Israelis wherever they might be.’
Hamas is furious that the new Prime Minister wants the group to reach a truce with Israel and has vowed to continue fighting.
A spokesman for Hamas reportedly told the BBC that the promise to end the Palestinian armed uprising had opened the door for Israel to kill Palestinians at will.
Abdul Aziz al-Rantissi, a Hamas leader, told AFP that demonstrations would take place at several refugee camps in the Gaza Strip, as well as the Gaza towns of Rafah and Khan Yunis.
Last night two Hamas members were killed during a gun battle with Israeli forces.
Militant group Islamic Jihad and two secular radical groups have also announced that they will refuse to lay down their arms.
