Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement on Saturday accused Hamas rulers in Gaza Strip of arresting several Fatah district leaders and officials.

Fatah spokesman Fehmi al-Za'areer said that at least seven senior Fatah members were arrested Saturday morning, including Abdel Rahman Hamas, a former minister and a member of Fatah higher committee in Gaza Strip.

He added that the reason of the arrest is "to prevent Fatah from staging any activities in Gaza Strip."

Hamas controls the coastal enclave since it routed pro-Abbas forces and ousted Fatah in 2007. Abbas consolidated his rule in West Bank and formed a Western-backed government while Hamas installed its own administration in Gaza Strip.

Fatah said the recent crackdown "shows Hamas' intention to foil the Egyptian-hosted Palestinian national dialogue." The second round of the reconciliation talks will resume next week.

The dialogue aims at reconciling Hamas and Fatah by forming a unity government and holding elections. The factions have agreed on holding the elections in January 2010 and forming a transitional government until then, but they still differ in the electoral law and the government's platform.

(Xinhua News Agency March 29, 2009)