Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas(M) arrives in the biblical West Bank town of Bethlehem to take part in the Orthodox Christmas eve service. Three Palestinians were killed in factional clashes in Gaza after Abbas demanded that the ruling Hamas integrate its forces into existing security structures and the Islamists rejected the call.(Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery >>>

    GAZA, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Several Palestinian military wings loyal to Hamas on Sunday held President Mahmoud Abbas and one of his aides responsible for any harm against Hamas-controlled Auxiliary Forces.

    At a joint news conference in Gaza, the armed wing of Hamas and five other offshoots loyal to Hamas said that Abbas and Mohammed Dahlan, a senior Fatah official and lawmaker, were to be blamed for any attack against Auxiliary Forces.

    Abbas announced on Saturday that the forces were illegal and should be integrated into official security departments. "Frankly, most of security officers do not carry out their roles well and it is unfair to hold Auxiliary Forces responsible for security chaos which existed before the creation of Auxiliary Forces," Hamas military spokesman Abu Obaida said.

    Auxiliary Forces, formed in Gaza last April, are controlled by Interior Minister Said Siam, who said the task of the forces are to help police impose order.

    However, the forces have taken part in attacks against Fatah members in recent factional clashes.

    There are unconfirmed reports that Dahlan had been appointed by Abbas as a security chief, which is regarded by analysts as the reason for his implication in the blame.

    Last month, Hamas accused Dahlan of being behind an assassination against Prime Minister Ismail Haneya, a senior Hamas official.

    Related:

    Abbas declares Hamas forces in Gaza illegal, Hamas rejects

    RAMALLAH, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday declared that the Hamas-controlled Auxiliary Forces in the Gaza Strip were illegal and outlawed.

    Abbas' statement was announced by a spokesman and came as part of a reshuffle Abbas intends to make among security chiefs in a bid to end recent chaos in the Palestinian Territories.

    "As the existing security institutions failed to impose respect of law and protect the people, the president has decided to make a reshuffle among security commanders," the spokesman was quoted by Palestinian official news agency Wafa as saying.

    The spokesman added that Auxiliary Forces, controlled by Interior Minister Said Siam and established in Gaza in the months after Hamas took power in early 2006, were illegal and would be dealt with until they became part of official security departments.

    In the meantime, Islam Shahwan, a spokesman for the Auxiliary Forces, has rejected Abbas' decision.

    "The President has no right to sack the Auxiliary Forces because they belong to Mr. Siam," Shahwan told Xinhua. "The forces are also part of the interior ministry and the government."

    Shahwan also reiterated that Abbas had approved the formation of the forces in the past.

    The Auxiliary Forces, consist mainly of Hamas fighters, have participated in recent gunbattles between Hamas and Fatah following Abbas' call for early elections.

    When the forces were created last April, Interior Minister Siam said that they were formed to help police imposing order.