‘Abbas Orders Probe on In-custody Death of Hamas-linked Cleric

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud ‘Abbas has ordered an investigation into the death of Imam Majd Al-Barghouti, a Hamas-linked cleric from the West Bank, who died while in the custody of a Fatah-aligned Palestinian security agency. Although the head of the Ramallah hospital to which Al-Barghouti was brought said he was dead-on-arrival, thousands who attended his funeral on Friday screamed anti-Fatah, anti-‘Abbas, and anti- [Prime Minister] Faya’d slogans. Demonstrations continued into Saturday. The 45-year-old Al-Barghouti had been in custody for a week when he complained of stomach pains. Doctors who examined him found nothing wrong. But on Friday he was moved to Khalid Hospital in Ramallah where he was pronounced dead.