Posted on 06/24/2002 5:42:52 AM PDT by kattracks
GAZA CITY, June 24 (AFP) - The spiritual leader of the radical Islamic Hamas movement rejected Monday orders by Yasser Arafat putting him under house arrest, as his supporters clashed with Palestinian police outside his Gaza City home.
Police and security officers surrounded Sheikh Yassin's house in western Gaza City early in the morning, acting on orders from the Palestinian leader, a day after arresting an unspecified number of Hamas militants.
A senior Palestinian police officer told AFP that the blind cleric was under house arrest but Sheikh Yassin and Hamas officials said they were not informed of this decision.
"I was not officially informed ... and even if they do inform me (of the house arrest) I will reject it," Yassin told reporters at his house.
"I will pursue a normal life and I will go out," he said in response to a question on his plans.
As Palestinian police deployed around Yassin's home, taking up positions on street corners some 40 meters (yards) from his house, they clashed with supporters of the 66-year-old wheelchair-bound Yassin, Hamas and police sources said.
The fighting broke out when youths among a group of 80 Yassin supporters hurled stones at the police, who responded by opening fire at the protesters, wounding two of them, Hamas sources told AFP.
Hospital officials in Gaza were unable to confirm the report, suggesting that if there were any casualties they were probably taken to clinics or were only slightly hurt.
Palestinian security sources meanwhile said that Hamas militants opened fire at the policemen but made no mention of casualties.
The clashes were brief and quickly contained by Hamas while a senior Hamas official who declined to be named told AFP: "We are working on a solution" to end the house arrest. He did not elaborate.
Violent clashes occurred on December 6 on the last occasion when Sheikh Yassin was put under house arrest and one person was killed.
Hamas meanwhile put a tent outside Yassin's house to receive well-wishers, adoring it with flags of the movement and placards calling on the Palestinian Authority to stop arresting Hamas militants and lift the house arrest order.
Senior Hamas leader Ismail Haniya told AFP that Palestinian police officers had also arrested more than 10 Hamas members in Gaza.
Abed Yassin, 30, one of the cleric's sons who lives with him, confirmed that his father was unaware that he had been put under house arrest.
"There is a large number of police and security officers surrounding our home, but no one has entered the house or told us about the house arrest," he told AFP by phone.
Anyone know why the others are gone?
Apparently, Arafat doesn't even want to tell him he's under house arrest.
The Palestinian authority has put Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin under house arrest, said an official, June 23, 2002. Ahmed Yassin speaks during an interview with Reuters in his home in Gaza Strip in this May 23, 2002 file photo. Photo by Ahmed Jadallah/Reuters
The dirty little Mullah. He is crippled and can only get around by wheelchair. Promoter of Jew killing and Jihad .......he has many Hamas killers at his disposal.
But isn't that what NORMALLY happens to terrorist leaders 'arrested' by the PA?
Have a nice day.
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