Hamas intends to beef up its auxiliary forces: FM

Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud al-Zahar said Saturday that his government, ruled by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), is considering the idea of increasing its auxiliary forces and deploy them in the West Bank.

"We consider doubling the number of the auxiliary forces members, and we consider establishing another auxiliary forces in the West Bank in order to prevent assaults on our ministers and establishments," said al-Zahar.

The Auxiliary Forces were established under a decision by Hamas government's Interior Minister Said Siam in April following Hamas formed the current government.

Most of its troops were members of Hamas and allied groups in a bid to setoff the security members loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas.

However, the decision to form the 3,000-member troops was rejected by security chiefs as well as President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement.

Since the forming of the Auxiliary Forces, several armed clashes have been erupted with the security members in the Gaza Strip, deepening the rift between Hamas and Fatah.

As for the call for an early election, al-Zahar said that Hamas was determined to run in any election that would be held in the future in the Palestinian territories.

"I want to tell those who threaten to hold early elections. By the well of Allah (God), we will win the coming municipal elections, the coming legislative elections and the coming presidential elections," said al-Zahar.

Meanwhile, he called on Israel to free Palestinian prisoners " in order to free their captive soldier Gilad Shalit."

Source: Xinhua