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Last update - 23:16 24/02/2008 Hamas loyalists turn preacher's funeral into W. Bank protest By The Associated Press Tags: West Bank, Mahmoud Abbas  Thousands of angry Hamas loyalists on Sunday marched at the funeral of a Muslim preacher who died in the custody of government interrogators, accusing the Palestinian Authority of killing the man and turning the ceremony into a rare show of defiance against President Mahmoud Abbas. Some 3,000 Hamas loyalists crowded the village of Kobar, carrying the body of 44-year-old Majed Barghouti, who died in a lockup run by intelligence officials on Friday, a week after he was arrested. The demonstration was an unusual sight in the West Bank, where Abbas' Palestinian Authority has become increasingly autocratic since his Hamas rivals seized power in the Gaza Strip in June. Since then, police have cracked down on protests perceived to challenge Abbas' rule. Advertisement Also Sunday, Israeli officials pointed to incremental progress in peace talks with Palestinians - appointing of joint committees to deal with secondary issues like water, the environment, economic and judicial matters. However, both sides said this was far from a breakthrough, because core issues like Jerusalem, Palestinian refugees and final borders were not involved. The noisy funeral showed that the Islamic militant group Hamas is a force in the West Bank, though Abbas is in control, his regime indirectly bolstered by Israeli forces who regularly operate against Hamas and other militant groups. Hamas officials said they did not trust a government investigation announced by Abbas. Mourners waved the green flags of the militant Muslim group as they carried Barghouti's body, boldly chanting in support of Hamas and its armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, a group banned in the West Bank. At a separate nearby march for women, mourners wrapped green Hamas bandannas around their headscarves and loudly condemned Abbas' intelligence chief, Tawfik Tirawi, whom they blamed for Barghouti's death. "Tirawi, you are a coward, you are the Americans' deputy," the women chanted. "We will crush your head, collaborator," they said. Tirawi did not respond to requests for comment Sunday. Barghouti had an inflamed liver and a serious heart problem when he died, said Justice Minister Ali Khashan. He could not say if the man died because of mistreatment sustained in detention, but said individual cases of torture are dealt with swiftly. Khashan declined to discuss Barghouti's case because of the ongoing investigation. Hamas spokesman Taher Nunu swiftly dismissed the investigation. He was tortured to death, Nunu told a news conference in Gaza. Nunu called on Palestinians to disobey any orders by Abbas' government to arrest Hamas loyalists. Barghouti, a father of eight, was a mosque preacher in Kobar and spent several years in Israeli prisons. He was among hundreds of Hamas activists detained by Abbas' security forces in the West Bank following the violent Hamas takeover of Gaza in June. Dozens remain in custody. Four men who were arrested alongside Barghouti told his family that they were all tied up in painful positions during interrogation, and that intelligence officers demanded to know where the detainees had hidden weapons. Shawan Jabareen, head of the Palestinian human rights group al-Haq, said Palestinian security forces routinely beat Hamas loyalists, who are arrested on suspicion of owning weapons or membership in the group's armed wing. "Torture has become a phenomenon," Jabareen said. He said his group had documented some 120 cases of mistreatment in detention. In a statement published in Palestinian newspapers, the intelligence service said Barghouti had complained of chest and abdominal pain and was examined by a hospital doctor two days before his death. Intelligence officials would not comment Sunday on the allegations. A protest planned by Hamas loyalists in the West Bank town of Ramallah, where Abbas' government is headquartered, was quickly dispersed by club-swinging Palestinian police. Related articles: Israel girds for 40,000-strong Gazan human chain Israel, Palestinians to start talks on civilian issues next week Bookmark to del.icio.us   Power to the people Egypt plans to provide all of Gaza's electricity, to wean dependency on Israel. Calculated escalation Hamas has been trying for some time to create a balance of deterrence with Israel.   1.   No to torture// 20:51  |  Joe 24/02/08   2.   the end of fatah and abbas 21:36  |  john 24/02/08   3.   abbas made the biggest mistake 21:56  |  steve 24/02/08   4.   To the Zionist regime 22:52  |  Hajj Jafar 24/02/08   5.   Shahin - Take note 00:05  |  * BEN JABO 25/02/08   6.   No torture, No terror, Jesus Only 00:07  |  John Isenhower 25/02/08   7.   To John #2 , Steve #3, & Haji # 4 00:12  |  Avrum 25/02/08   8.   Who got better treatment Marwan Barghouti or Majed? 00:13  |  McQueen 25/02/08   9.   WHERE Is Pres. Jimmy Carter?Archbishops D.Tutu,R Williams? 00:29  |  PETER SM 25/02/08   10.   H Jaffar the Hamas regime IS very honest on "NO Peace Ever"policy 00:36  |  PETER SM 25/02/08   11.   This man`s death is a disgrace and Israel is to blame too 02:30  |  Dutch 25/02/08   12.   avrum #7 04:21  |  John 25/02/08   13.   you are absolutly right John 10:58  |  anwar 25/02/08   14.   I SAW THE VIDEO: THE MAN WAS TORTURED BADLY TO DEATH 17:33  |  TripleJump 25/02/08   15.   #14 Tripple Jump - What video?? 03:02  |  * BEN JABO 27/02/08   16.   #11 DEMENTED DUTCH 03:51  |  * BEN JABO 27/02/08   17.   #15-2 Tripple Jump - THE VIDEO?? 14:19  |  * BEN JABO 28/02/08   18.   #15 TRIPPLE JUMP - 2ND REQUEST 02:27  |  * BEN JABO 29/02/08

Today Online 10 Gazans killed, Israeli wounded in ongoing violence Responses: 156 EU joins UN in slamming use of 'disproportionate' force in Gaza Responses: 280 Barak to Justice Min.: Can IDF legally hit civilian areas used to fire rockets? Responses: 111 Independent expert: IDF bullets didn't kill Mohammed al-Dura Responses: 99 Harel and Issacharoff: Hamas will now try to avenge Gaza deaths Responses: 69 Rosner's Domain Battle of Ohio: Will Tzipi meet Hillary? No "statement of interest" against terror victims (WTR) McCain, Obama gear up for face off over Iraq Poll: Your solution for the situation in Gaza Prosecutor in AIPAC case to leave before trial? (WTR) More Headlines 18:09 10 Gazans killed, 4 troops hurt in ongoing Gaza op 18:10 Israeli lightly wounded as 21 rockets slam in western Negev 17:01 Barak to Justice Min.: Can IDF legally hit civilian areas used to fire rockets? 17:26 Hebron teen dies, 3 Israelis hurt as violence spreads to W. Bank 15:47 EU joins UN in slamming use of 'disproportionate' force in Gaza 17:41 Expats' kids in IDF: 'If I don't help defend my home then who will?' 15:17 Hillary Clinton comes out swinging as Ohio primary nears 18:11 Israeli Arab groups to hold series of protests against Gaza offensive 15:39 Tel Aviv Stock Exchange slumps amid violence in south 14:12 Saudi Arabia compares IDF Gaza operation to Nazi war crimes 13:59 Ahmadinejad in Iraq: First-ever visit opens new chapter in ties Previous Editions Select Day 29 feb 28 feb 27 feb 26 feb 25 feb 24 feb 22 feb 21 feb 20 feb 19 feb 18 feb 17 feb

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