Hamas has Dahlan in sights

Thousands of Hamas supporters poured into the streets of the Gaza Strip after Friday prayers to

denounce one of Fatah's most powerful leaders, ratcheting up tensions between the rival Palestinian factions.

Both the ruling Hamas movement and once-dominant Fatah have mounted large rallies in Gaza and the occupied West Bank in recent days, trying to whip up public support and project strength.

At least 30 Palestinians have been killed in factional fighting since President Mahmoud Abbas called last month for early elections to try to break a deadlock with Hamas.

Hamas supporters emerged from mosques on Friday waving green Hamas flags and chanted slogans accusing Mohammad Dahlan, a Fatah strongman and possible successor to Abbas, of being the

mastermind of a "coup" against its nine-month-old government.

"Dahlan is a traitor," they chanted. Hamas accused Dahlan in December of masterminding a plot to kill Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, a charge Dahlan denied.

Tawfiq Abu Khoussa, a Fatah spokesman, accused Hamas of trying to spark more fighting. "We urge Hamas to return to its senses before it is too late," he said.

Palestinian Prime Minister and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh is expected to deliver a speech on Saturday aimed at shedding light on unity talks with Abbas. Previous efforts to form a national unity government between the two rivals have been unsuccessful.

Arabic-language news outlets recently report that progress has been achieved in secret unity talks between exiled Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal and Abbas.

'Mohammad our ideal'

Three Palestinians were wounded in fighting on Friday between the rival groups.

"Listen Dahlan, our ideal is the Prophet Mohammad and not Olmert and Bush," Hamas supporters chanted, referring to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and US President George W. Bush.

"Listen Dahlan, our choice is Jihad. It is not treason."

Dahlan has close ties to Washington and is expected to be among the Palestinian officials to meet US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on her visit to the region, starting on Saturday.

Abbas has chosen Dahlan to serve as security adviser, Palestinian officials said.

Dahlan is one of the few Palestinian officials that Israel allows to pass back and forth between Gaza and the West Bank using the Erez crossing.

Gaza residents said on Friday that policemen clashed with gunmen after dawn near Erez after a tunnel was discovered under the main road. Fatah accused Hamas of digging the tunnel and of planning to use it to carry out an attack.

The United States plans to provide Abbas with more than USD 86 million to help train and equip his presidential guard, stepping up Washington's involvement in the power struggle.

Haniyeh will make an address to Palestinians on Saturday, his office said without giving further details.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians filled Gaza's main stadium for a pro-Dahlan rally last Sunday in which the Fatah leader sharply criticised Hamas.

Ali Waked contributed to this report