Last update - 00:00 21/01/2007
PA forces find Gaza tunnels said for use against Fatah officials
By Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondent
Palestinian security forces linked to Fatah have recently uncovered 11 bomb-laden tunnels, which they say were allegedly intended for use against senior Fatah officials.
Those believed to have been targets include Mohammed Dahlan, a member of the Palestinian parliament and Fatah's strongman in Gaza, who has close links to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas.
The tunnels were uncovered beneath main roads in the Gaza Strip, and the explosives were designed to detonate as the motorcades of Fatah officials passed over the tunnel. Hamas has denied allegations that its members were connected to the tunnels.
The first tunnel was uncovered at the start of the week on Salah al-Din route, north of Gaza City. The tunnel was discovered by chance when a Palestinian vehicle overturned on the road, likely due to the damage caused because of the digging.
Palestinian police forces who arrived at the scene found the tunnel, which had been dug under the road. Ten other tunnels were discovered underneath Salah al-Din route itself, at the entrance to the Nusseirat refugee camp and on the road leading to the Rafah border crossing in southern Gaza.