Hamas rally in Gaza

Thousands of Palestinians have attended a rally in the Gaza Strip to mark the tenth anniversary of the founding of the Islamic militant group Hamas.

One of its leaders, Abdel Aziz Rantisi, told a crowded stadium in Gaza that the group, which has carried out more than a dozen suicide bomb attacks since 1994, would continue its jihad against Israel.

At one point, about thirty masked militants marched around the stadium and saluted the Hamas founder, Sheikh Yassin, vowing to continue Palestinian resistance.

Sheikh Yassin, who was recently released from dentention by the Israelis, criticised the Palestinian Authority for corruption and called for officials to be tried.

He also urged it to cut all ties with Israel.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service