Delegates wait to pass the security check at the assembly place of the sixth congress of the Palestinian Fatah movement in the West Bank city of Bethlehem on August 4, 2009. The Palestinian Fatah movement kicked off its sixth congress in Bethlehem on Tuesday morning to renew its leadership. [Xinhua]

The Palestinian Fatah movement kicked off its sixth congress in the West Bank city of Bethlehem on Tuesday morning to renew its leadership.

The first conference of Fatah in 20 years started with a member reading phrases from Quran before members standing for national anthem.

About 2,267 Fatah members were initially expected to attend the conference, but more than 400 Gaza-based invitees are absent since the Islamic Hamas movement, Fatah's bitter rival which controls the Gaza Strip, barred the conferees from traveling to the West Bank.

Ahmed Qurei, a peace negotiator who is presiding the conference, accused Hamas of trying to foil the conference by preventing Fatah activists from leaving Gaza.

Several Arab and international delegations and parties are attending the opening session of the three-day conference, which is being held in a hall of a school near the Church of Nativity.

Security measures have been tightened as hundreds of policemen have been deployed on the streets leading to the school.

Delegates enter the assembly place of the sixth congress of the Palestinian Fatah movement in the West Bank city of Bethlehem on August 4, 2009. [Xinhua]

A delegate with a Fatah hat enters the assembly place of the sixth congress of the Palestinian Fatah movement in the West Bank city of Bethlehem on August 4, 2009. [Xinhua]

(Xinhua News Agency August 4, 2009)