Possible Hamas Murder Plot Video Released by PA

Via Al-Jazeera (Qatar) -

The Palestinian Authority has released video of what it said was a Hamas attempt to assassinate Mahmoud Abbas, the president.

The pictures appear to show Hamas fighters preparing explosives in a tunnel under the main North South road that runs through the middle of the Gaza Strip.

Abbas drives along the road to get to his home and presidential compound in Gaza City.

Hamas has strongly denied any role in the purported plot to kill Abbas.

The images appear to show Hamas fighters laughing as one seems to say "This is for Abu Mazen and the next one is for the Preventative Security."

Abu Mazen is the name by which the Palestinian president is also known.

The tape was released on the same day that Abbas agreed to meet Ehud Olmert, the Israeli prime minister, for the first time since Hamas took control of Gaza.

Jamal Nazzah, a Fatah spokesman, told Al Jazeera: "This is not the first time Hamas has tried to kill Abbas. In our view this was part of a plan to make a coup against the Palestinian Authority."

Atef Adwan, a Hamas MP, responded: "If Hamas had wanted to kill president Abbas then we would have done this years ago.