Abbas denies attempt on life
2004-11-14 21:51
Gaza City - Gunmen killed two members of the security services in Gaza City Sunday as PLO leader Mahmud Abbas visited a mourning tent for Yasser Arafat, underlining fears the Palestinian leader's death could trigger an upsurge in lawlessness.
Abbas, the clear favourite to succeed Arafat as president of the Palestinian Authority (PA), escaped unharmed from a lengthy exchange of fire which he insisted was the result of a feud between gunmen rather than an assassination attempt.
Hospital sources named the two fatalities as a member of Arafat's elite Force 17 unit and a member of the preventive security service. Four other people were wounded, they added.
Witnesses and an AFP correspondent at the scene said more than 1,000 people were in the tent at the time of the shooting. The gunfire triggered scenes of panic as people fled the tent, although Abbas, ringed by aides and guards, remained calm.
In brief comments to Palestinian television, Abbas said there appeared to have "been friction between armed men and they started shooting in the air.
"There is no political or personal dimension to what happened," he added.
Abbas had travelled to Gaza after a series of political meetings in the West Bank designed to ensure a smooth transition of power, with the former premier emerging as clear favourite to become the new elected president of the PA.