Hamas undoes last session

The Hamas-controlled Palestinian parliament cancelled Monday all decisions made during the last session of the outgoing legislature, signalling a confrontational approach to dealing with Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah party.

The last parliament, dominated by Fatah, gave additional powers to Mr. Abbas - empowering him to appoint a new, nine-judge constitutional court that would have the authority to resolve any dispute between him and the Hamas-dominated parliament or cabinet. The court also could veto legislation deemed to violate the Palestinians' Basic Law, a forerunner to the Palestinian constitution.

The previous parliament also approved last-minute appointments of five Fatah members to key government positions, including head of the Palestinian Authority's personnel department.

Fatah legislators walked out in protest before Monday's vote. They argued that Hamas was breaking the rules by holding the vote and that the last session of the Fatah-controlled parliament was legal.
During the voting, a dozen Fatah gunmen walked near the parliament building in Gaza City, firing into the air.