Palestinians execute informers

Allan Bani Ouda was executed in a public square

Two Palestinians have been executed by firing squad after being convicted of collaborating with the Israel secret services.

The death sentences were carried out despite objections by Palestinian human rights activists who said they were tried in a matter of hours, without lawyers, and with no right of appeal.

Later, a Palestinian court sentenced four other men, also for helping the Israelis; two were sentenced to death, the other two face life imprisonment.

Public execution

The execution of Allan Bani Ouda took place in a public square in the West Bank city of Nablus, as hundreds of Palestinians chanted "God is Great".

The executions will be a message to everyone who might think to betray his people

Freih Abu Meddein
Palestinian Justice Minister

The other man, Majdi Mikkawi, was shot in a closed execution in the main Gaza police station, Palestinian police said.

Palestinian security courts had found both guilty of providing Israel with information that led to the killing of Palestinian activists.

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat ratified the death sentences on Friday, bringing to five the number of executions since 1994, when the Palestinian Authority took control of most of the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank.

Ouda's cousin Ibrahim was killled shortly after release from prison

Allan Bani Ouda was convicted after reportedly confessing to Palestinian security officials that he played a part in the 23 November explosion that killed his cousin, Ibrahim Bani Ouda, in the West Bank.

Majdi Mikkawi was found guilty of providing information which led to the deaths of four Fatah members including his uncle, the senior Fatah leader Jamal Abdel Razek, said Palestinian Justice Minister Freih Abu Meddein.

Appeal to 'collaborators'

"The executions of those two criminals will be a message to everyone who might think to betray his people and his homeland," said Mr Abu Meddein.

Mohammed Daiefallah pleads for his life before being sentenced to death

He added that collaborators with Israel should turn themselves in so that justice could be served.

"We will guarantee their safety. They should turn themselves in voluntarily before it is too late to avoid punishment," he said.

The four other Palestinians convicted of collaboration on Saturday must have their sentences upheld by Mr Arafat.

They were tried in a short hearing in Bethlehem, as collaborators in the November killing of militia commander Hussein Abayat, who was hit by rockets fired from Israeli helicopters as he drove in the West Bank town of Beit Sahour.

The trial has begun in the Cairo state security court of Sherif Fawzi al-Filali, who is charged with spying for Israel in league with a Russian national who allegedly recruited him.

Mr Filali, a 34-year-old engineer arrested in Cairo last September, faces up to 25 years in prison with forced labour if found guilty of the spying charges.

The two men are accused of being paid by the Israeli intelligence agency, Mossad, to supply information on the political, economic and military situation in Egypt, and of harming the nation's interests.

The Russian, identified as Grigory Jevins, is to be tried in absentia.