02/07/2009
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas accused Hamas yesterday of hoarding weaponry in order to carry out attacks against PA officials. A Hamas cell was apprehended by PA security forces last week, and has confessed to plotting to carry out attacks against officials, in order to prevent the signing of a unity agreement between Fatah and Hamas. Abbas noted that Hamas was stockpiling medium and heavy arms, RPGs and machine guns in anticipation of a clash with the PA, and that assassinations of PA officials had been planned. Abbas made the remarks in an interview with Russian television. He also expressed his pessimism at the prospects for successful reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas.