First Friday prayers after Hamas bans public prayer to stop Fatah demos, scuffles

Описание: (7 Sep 2007) SHOTLIST
Gaza City, Gaza Strip
1. Hamas security forces in street
2. Hamas security stopping car and questioning driver
3. Pan of vehicle carrying Hamas security forces
4. Car being checked
5. Cars driving past Hamas security officer
6. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Yousof Al-Zahar, head of Hamas' executive forces:
"We hope there will be no actions taken against the law. Prayers are an obligation for each Muslim but we reject the use of the prayers for political causes (regarding Fatah activists protesting against Hamas during prayers) and we will not allow it in any way."
Rafah, Gaza Strip
7. Hamas security on street
8. Wide shot of Hamas security arguing with Fatah activists in streets
9. Hamas security pushing Fatah activist
10. Hamas security on street
11. Scuffle between Hamas security and Fatah activists
12. Pan of Hamas men on jeep driving in streets
Gaza City, Gaza Strip
13. Fatah activists arguing with Hamas security men, UPSOUND, Fatah activist: "I didn't do anything, I'm standing, listening. Is it forbidden to listen? I'm not leaving, hit me but I won't leave."
14. Fatah activist being arrested
15. Hamas security pushing Fatah detainees into jeeps
16. SOUNDBITE (Arabic) Palestinian journalist (name not given):
"I was beaten by three men from the executive forces and one bearded civilian and they took the camera from me. I told them I was a journalist but he kept on beating me. I identified myself as a journalist and showed him my card, my journalist card, I told him - 'if you want the tape take the tape, I don't care, but they kept on beating me and took the camera."
17. Walking shot of more people being arrested
18. People on street walking away from scuffles
STORYLINE:
Hamas security forces on Friday beat Fatah supporters trying to hold street prayers to protest the Islamic group's rule in Gaza, witnesses said.
The prayer protest was the latest episode in friction between the groups since Hamas' bloody seizure of power in Gaza in June.
This week Hamas banned all public prayers after Fatah supporters began holding worship sessions that quickly escalated into raucous protests against Hamas rule.
"We hope there will be no actions taken against the law. Prayers are an obligation for each Muslim but we reject the use of the prayers for political causes (regarding Fatah activists protesting against Hamas during prayers) and we will not allow it in any way," Yousof Al-Zahar, the head of Hamas' executive forces, told AP Television in Gaza City on Friday.
Hamas security forces searched cars in the streets of Gaza City and arrested several Fatah activists.
They also scuffled with Fatah worshippers after trying to force them off a main square and to a nearby mosque, witnesses said.
At least one man was dragged to a Hamas jeep and beaten by several security men, the witnesses said.
Several journalists trying to cover the scuffle were attacked by the forces, they added.
One cameraman said he was "beaten by three men from the executive forces and one bearded civilian."
"I identified myself as a journalist and showed him my card, my journalist card, I told him - 'if you want the tape take the tape, I don't care, but they kept on beating me and took the camera," he said.
Similar scuffles erupted in the southern town of Rafah, where Hamas forces clashed with worshippers who tried to gather in a public square.

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