'Bring Down' Hamas in Gaza: Palestinian Prez

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas yesterday called for the overthrow of the Hamas government in Gaza for "abusing" people. "We have to bring down this bunch, which took over Gaza with armed force," he said in his most inflammatory remarks since Hamas took over in June. Abbas' angry attack closely followed Hamas' violent suppression of a pro-Fatah rally earlier this week.

Hamas police on Monday fired live ammunition into a rally of 200,000 Fatah supporters, killing 8 and wounding more than 80. One recent poll said just 13% of Gaza residents support Hamas, compared to 40% for Abbas' Fatah. The Palestinian Authority, with the support of the Israeli army, is still in control of the West Bank, where Abbas is based, but Israeli intelligence reports that Hamas intends to seize power there. (More Gaza stories.)