General strike declared after Yassin assassinated

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, March 22, 2004

General strike declared after Yassin assassinated

A three-day general strike was declared in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip from mosque loudspeakers on Monday to protest the Israeli assassination of Yassin.

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Israeli forces killed the founder and spiritual leader of Hamas, Sheik Ahmed Yassin, in a missile strike outside a Gaza City mosque early Monday, an attack that is expected to escalate Israeli-Palestinian violence dramatically.

A three-day general strike was declared in both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip from mosque loudspeakers on Monday to protest the Israeli assassination.

Yassin was the most influential Palestinian militant leader to be killed by Israel, and Hamas threatened bloody revenge. In a spontaneous outpouring of rage and grief, tens of thousands of Palestinians, led by hundreds of gunmen, poured into the streets of Gaza City after hearing of Yassin's death.

Flames and black smoke were coming out from different parts of Gaza as a result of burning tires in the main streets of the city.

At Shifa Hospital, where Yassin's mangled body was taken, masked gunmen shot in the air. Some aired recordings of Yassin, saying, "We chose this road, and will end with martyrdom or victory."

Cars drove through the streets blaring calls for revenge over loudspeakers. Mosques read passages from the Quran and two Gaza churches rang their church bells.

Different Palestinian armed groups have vowed revenge for Israel's assassination of Yassin, warning attacks against Israel " would be escalated."

"Words cannot describe the emotion of anger and hate inside our hearts," said Hamas official Ismail Haniyeh, a close associate of Yassin.

The wheelchair-bound Yassin was hit as he left a mosque near his house at daybreak Monday, witnesses said. Israeli helicopters fired three missiles, and Yassin and three other people were killed instantly.

One Palestinian hospital worker told Israel Radio that Yassin took a direct hit, and that "nothing was left but the head." Only a charred metal seat was left of Yassin's wheelchair, with one of the wheels attached.

Ambulances and fire trucks raced to the scene, sirens wailing, and rescue workers were gathering up parts of the shattered bodies.

Announcing Yassin's death over mosque loudspeakers, the Hamas leadership said, "Sharon has opened the gates of hell. and nothing will stop us from cutting off his head," referring to the Israeli prime minister.

Source: CD/agencies

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