Demonstrators storm Palestinian parliament
Dozens of Palestinian civil servants today stormed a parliamentary session to demand long-overdue salaries, attacking Hamas politicians and forcing the parliament speaker to flee from the building.
The demonstrators chanted slogans and banged on the door of the Ramallah building before entering the hall. The angry crowd then pelted Hamas politicians with water bottles and other small items.
The Hamas-led government, weakened by international economic sanctions, has been unable to pay the salaries of civil servants since taking office more than three months ago. The financial crisis has caused severe hardship throughout the West Bank and Gaza.
Most of the demonstrators were believed to be members of Fatah, the rival movement of president Mahmoud Abbas which Hamas defeated in January legislative elections.
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