yeah, give 'em a state - sure, if you're nuts!

Aug. 1, 2004 16:03 | Updated Aug. 1, 2004 16:08
Pro-Arafat gunmen break up Fatah meeting in Nablus
By ASSOCIATED PRESS

Gunmen loyal to Palestinian Authority chairman Yasser Arafat opened fire Sunday at a conference of Arafat's Fatah movement in Nablus, in the latest sign of factional infighting among the Palestinian leadership.

The Fatah conference was convened to discuss reform in the Palestinian Authority and to call for elections to the Fatah leadership committees, which have not been held for 15 years.

The meeting of about 70 legislators and senior Fatah officials followed weeks of demonstrations against the disarray in the security services and corruption in the PA.

About 20 armed men broke into the conference on the first day of the weeklong event, firing into the air and above the stage where speakers were seated.

No one was injured, but the meeting broke up. Several delegates met with the gunmen to discuss whether the conference could continue.

The gunmen identified themselves as members of the Al-Awda Brigades, a small militant group. One member said he believed the meeting was part of a conspiracy against Arafat.

A letter to Arafat drafted by conference delegates denounced the lawlessness in the territories and corruption in the Palestinian Authority.

"President Arafat, this might be the last chance for reforming our situation before reaching the end. We need a revolution within our Fatah movement," the letter said.