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Last update - 23:04 03/04/2008 Independent PA panel: Hamas man 'tortured to death' in custody By Reuters Tags: PA, Majd al-Barghouthi, Hamas  Palestinian lawmakers probing the death in custody of a preacher from the Islamist Hamas movement said on Thursday he had been "tortured to death" by security men loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas. A self-appointed investigation team comprising six independent lawmakers determined that Majd al-Barghouthi died as a result of torture and said the head of the Fatah-run intelligence services, Tawfiq Tirawi, should be held to account. Advertisement Another commission which Abbas appointed in late February to investigate the matter has not yet delivered its verdict, although a pathologist working on behalf of Fatah said he had not found signs of torture on Barghouthi's body. Independent lawmaker Hassan Khreisheh, a member of the investigating commission, said it had observed "torture marks" on the legs, back and arms of the 45-year-old father of nine, who had been detained for a week before his death. He said witnesses had told the commission that Barghouthi had been tortured in a "mad manner". "We demand that this incident close the chapter of political detention once and for all," Khreisheh told Reuters. He said the lawmakers had demanded that Abbas punish anyone who participated in, ordered or oversaw the torture of Barghouthi. In February, Hamas officials accused security agents from Abbas's secular Fatah faction of torturing Barghouthi to death but security officials said he had died of a stroke. Tension between Hamas and Fatah has increased since the Islamists took control of the Gaza Strip in a brief but bloody civil war in June. Fatah still holds sway in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Human rights groups accused Hamas of torturing to death four Palestinians in Gaza since it took control of the Strip. Both Fatah and Hamas accuse each other of arresting and torturing their supporters in the enclaves. Related articles: Hamas loyalists turn preacher's funeral into W. Bank protest Hamas airs confessions of Fatah members in plot to kill Haniyeh Meshal welcomes Saudi bid to broker Hamas-Fatah talks Suspects in plot to assassinate PM Olmert back in custody Bookmark to del.icio.us   Lost giant Endangered sea turtle washes up on Gaza's shore and is eaten. Not worried Nearly half of Israeli Arabs say let Iran develop nukes.   1.   reminder 01:50  |  potobac 04/04/08   2.   Self-appointed commission - great work! 02:54  |  Joe Sittizen 04/04/08   3.   Tortured by his Pal brothers, no less..... 03:14  |  Free Gilad Shalit 04/04/08   4.   POTOBAC remind us of your evidence for "Tortured to death"? 06:13  |  PETER SM 04/04/08   5.   peter sm 4 06:13  |  potobac 05/04/08

Today Online Israel and U.S. to coordinate on boycott of anti-racism meet Responses: 203 Former militant leader: The Palestinian people is finished Responses: 202 Poll: Nearly half of Israeli Arabs say let Iran develop nukes Responses: 51 Hamas: Gaza sniper aimed for Public Security Min. Dichter Responses: 78 Syria: We choose peace, but we're ready for Israeli attack Responses: 55 Rosner's Domain Government trying to block witness in AIPAC trial (WTR) Rabbi Yoffie vs. Pastor Hagee What is worth fighting for? Intermarriage pushes the question: what does it mean to be Jewish? Israel Factor: McCain-Barak, the dream team More Headlines 01:25 12 Palestinian prisoners break out of Nablus jail 00:46 Hamas: Gaza sniper aimed for Public Security Min. Dichter 03:33 Orthodox rabbi speaks at event marking 40th anniversary of MLK assassination 22:18 Putin: Moscow committed to hosting Mideast peace meet 16:07 Gazans eat endangered turtle termed 'as good as Viagra' 01:16 Obama, Clinton, McCain to co-Chair Israel 60th committee 22:58 T-shirt mogul apologizes to Woody Allen for image of him as Hasid 10:47 'Marching toward total ruin' 16:36 Israel, U.S. to coordinate on boycott of Durban II conference 11:00 Syria: We choose peace, but we're ready for Israeli attack 06:09 Vatican assures Jews of its respect despite tension over revived prayer 18:11 Two men suspected of attempted rape released after complainants recant 10:42 Health Ministry: 'Complacence, negligence' cause patient's death 04:45 U.K. Foreign Sec.: Israel's future depends on Palestinian statehood Previous Editions Select Day 04 apr 03 apr 02 apr 01 apr 31 mar 30 mar 28 mar 27 mar 26 mar 25 mar 24 mar 23 mar

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