The power struggle between Fatah and Hamas in the Gaza Strip intensified yesterday with Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas describing the paramilitary forces of Hamas as "illegal," only for the group to announce plans to increase the size of its force to 12,000.

Islam Shihuan, spokesman for the Hamas Executive Force, said yesterday that the force would be doubled and that "conscription has begun and we are calling on every loyal citizen to prepare himself to join the force." The Executive Force is independent of the more veteran Hamas militia, Iz al-Din al-Qassam.

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Meanwhile, PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas yesterday declared the Executive Force illegal, raising the stakes in the standoff between his Fatah party and the rival Islamic movement.

Several months ago Abbas agreed to include the Executive Force in the ranks of forces controlled by the Interior Ministry. However, following an attack by members of the Hamas force against the home of a Fatah security commander in Gaza, killing him and seven of his bodyguards, Abbas decided to label the Executive Force as "outside the law."

Abbas' office said the decision was made "in light of the continued security chaos and assassinations that got to a number of our fighters ... and in light of the failure of existing agencies and security apparatuses in imposing law and order and protecting the security of the citizens."

Speaking to reporters later, Abbas said the force is illegal. "Creating any force needs a decree and this decree has not been issued. Anyone who says this is an independent force is going against the law and the constitution," he said in Bethlehem.

Interior Ministry spokesman Khaled Abu Hilal said Abbas' decree cleared the way for new attacks on Hamas men. He called the decision "a green light to those who seek to shed the blood of Executive Force members" and said the unit would "deal firmly" with anyone who attacks its men.

Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas said the militia is legal and would continue to report to the Interior Ministry.

"I am becoming completely convinced that there are those who don't want the Palestinian scene to enjoy calm and stability or to create the appropriate atmosphere for starting serious and deep dialogue aimed at reaching a national unity government," he said.

In the latest violence, pro-Fatah gunmen attacked Hamas officials in two separate incidents in the West Bank yesterday.

In the first incident, gunmen abducted Nablus' deputy mayor, Mahdi al-Khamdali of Hamas. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but the officials said they believed the kidnappers were supporters of the rival Fatah group.

In Ramallah, gunmen stormed the offices of the Hamas-controlled Interior Ministry, shot the office manager in the legs and took him away. The man, also a Hamas supporter, was released in a nearby town and hospitalized.

Israeli officials said yesterday that the clashes between Hamas and Fatah in the territories could not be described as a full fledged civil war, but said the violence was not likely to end soon.

The officials said the violence is still taking place, for the most part, among factions and clans, and most Palestinians are opting not to get involved in the fighting.

Meanwhile, Israeli security sources expressed doubts over the veracity of reports in the Egyptian daily Al-Ahram that Haniyeh managed to smuggle $20 million during his return to the Gaza Strip last week.

Sources said that various "indications" suggest the report is not true.