World Tribune.com

NextCard Visa

Palestinians seek to block coverage of pro-Bin Laden riots

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Monday, October 15, 2001

GAZA Ñ The Palestinian Authority attempted to block media coverage of the demonstrations in support of Saudi fugitive Osama Bin Laden which continued over the weekend.

Palestinian officials are still carrying out a crackdown against dissidents in a drive to end the demonstrations. Over the weekend, however, thousands of Palestinians in the West Bank attended pro-Bin Laden marches held in Nablus and Ramallah. PA police did not intervene.

Palestinian authorities have banned foreign reporters from PA-held areas and arrested local newspaper editors. Authorities also declared areas in Gaza as off-limits out of concern that Bin Laden supporters would stage demonstrations there over the weekend. Security was also beefed up around PA installations in Gaza City to ward off attacks by opposition forces.

On Saturday, the PA reopened two Gaza universities closed in the wake of Monday's bloody riots in Gaza City. Last week, three people were killed by PA police gunfire during a pro-Bin Laden demonstration staged by university students.

Palestinian human rights activists said dozens of Palestinians have also been wounded during PA efforts to stop pro-Bin Laden demonstrations. LAW, the Palestinian Society for the Protections of Human Rights and the Environment, has called for an investigation into the Oct. 8 killing of demonstrators.

LAW said PA officers were not under serious threat when they opened fire in Gaza City. The group said the officers responded with live fire when several demonstrators threw stones toward the police.

But Britain and the United States have welcomed PA Chairman Yasser Arafat's efforts against Bin Laden supporters. Washington has praised Arafat's crackdown while London has invited the PA chairman for high-level meetings on Monday.

On Sunday, a Hamas military commander in the West Bank city of Kalkilya was killed by Israeli commandos. Abdul Rahman Hamid, 33, was wanted by Israel for a series of attacks.

The killing took place as a debate erupted within the Israeli military leadership over the prospect of easing restrictions on the PA. Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer supports the lifting of restrictions while Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Shaul Mofaz is said to oppose such a move.

Print this Article Print this Article Email this article Email this article Subscribe to this Feature Free Headline Alerts