Yasser Arafat fourth death anniversary:

Hamas accused of blocking events in Gaza

GAZA: Organisers accused the Islamist Hamas movement on Monday of blocking their plans for events in Gaza to mark the fourth anniversary of the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

"We have made every effort to organise commemorations for the fourth anniversary but the committee has had to cope with numerous obstacles, in particular the ban imposed by the Hamas government on any ceremony," said organising committee member Walid al-Awad.

He said that the committee, which has representatives from all the factions in the Palestine Liberation Organisation but not from Hamas, had informed the Islamist group of its intention to hold a rally on Tuesday but had received "a firm answer forbidding any celebration."

However the Hamas-run interior ministry in Gaza, which requires the organisers of any demonstration in the territory to obtain its prior permission, said it had received no such application from the organising committee. GAZA CITY, Tuesday, AFP