Fatah gunmen stormed a mourning tent in Gaza City on Sunday evening and opened fire to protest against the presence of the PLO's Mahmoud Abbas and former security minister Muhammed Dahlan.Two Palestinian policemen were killed in the ensuing gun battle, which lasted for more than 10 minutes. Abbas was unhurt, but his bodyguards threw him to the ground as the shooting intensified.
The two were identified as Kamal Abu Kainas, member of Force 17, or presidential guard, and Raed Darwish of the Preventative Security Force.
The Fatah Central Committee on Sunday chose Abu Mazen (Mahmoud Abbas) as its candidate for the Palestinian presidential elections, slated to take place on January 9, 2005.
