Abbas fires 200 senior Hamas government officials

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has cut his government’s last ties with Islamic Hamas militants who seized control of the Gaza Strip, rescinding all senior appointments of Hamas loyalists employed by the Palestinian government.

After Hamas and Abbas’ Fatah agreed in February to form a joint government, Abbas gave some 200 Hamas members top posts in Palestinian government ministries. But on Friday night, Abbas issued a presidential decree invalidating the appointments. (AP)