Hamas, the radical Palestinian group, won a crucial test of strength with the Palestinian Authority yesterday when it secured the release of a gunman arrested for allegedly firing rockets at Israel.
Hundreds of Hamas loyalists demonstrated on the streets of Gaza City, setting up roadblocks and threatening to kill supporters of Mahmoud Abbas, the new leader.
Egyptian diplomats based in Gaza were forced to intervene, spelling out to the Abbas administration the dire consequences of not releasing the gunman, Jamal Aawad. Within hours he was free.
The incident, which underlined the power enjoyed by Hamas, was a significant setback for Mr Abbas's attempt to entrench the rule of law after decades of radicalism, corruption and disorder under Yasser Arafat.
The arrest of Aawad by guards loyal to Mr Abbas was part of his promise to use an "iron fist" to clamp down on militants willing to jeopardise the three-month ceasefire that ended the intifada.
From the Telegraph.
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