PNA denies any security cooperation with CIA

RAMALLAH, Dec. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian National Authority (PNA) denied on Friday an alleged report which claimed that there was security cooperation between the PNA and the American Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

Adnan Damiry, spokesman of the PNA security apparatuses, denied a report published by the British daily The Guardian that the U.S. intelligence plays a role in aiding the PNA in cracking down on Hamas movement's members and activists in the West Bank.

"This report is totally untrue and rootless," said Damiry, adding "it is fabricated." He called on The Guardian "to check the accuracy of its report before publishing it."

"We have no cooperation with CIA, and all that we have in Palestine is a small security force that tries to restore discipline and calm."

Meanwhile, Gaza Strip ruling Islamic Hamas movement accused the United States of being involved in the war the PNA carried out against its members and leaders in the West Bank.

Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas spokesman in Gaza, said in a new conference held in Gaza that the report of the British newspaper "is totally true," adding "Hamas members in the West Bank are detained and badly tortured by the PNA security apparatuses."

"The report and the massive arrests against Hamas members in the West Bank indicate that there is a strong cooperation between Ramallah authority and the American CIA," said Abu Zuhri.

He added that all the testimonies that Hamas movement got from its members imprisoned by the PNA security forces were "proof that the CIA cooperates with the PNA in arresting and torturing Hamas members."