Abbas sets Hamas detainees free

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has ordered the release of scores of Hamas members rounded up by West Bank security forces this week.

Mr Abbas's Fatah faction moved against its militant rival Hamas after about 200 Fatah supporters were arrested in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.

Mr Abbas says that they too should now be released.

Hamas insists the arrests were part of its investigation into a bombing which killed five of its members and a child.

The six were killed by a bomb which went off inside a car travelling past a beach where people were enjoying a day by the sea.

"President Abbas has ordered his security officials to free all the Hamas militants arrested in recent days in the West Bank," a statement from his office read.