Fatah militants storm rival-held government buildings

RAMALLAH, West Bank (CNN) -- Palestinian gunmen raided parliament buildings controlled by rivals in the West Bank on Saturday as factional fighting continued to spread.

The show of force by the armed wing of Fatah followed rival Hamas' takeover in Gaza.

Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades stormed into the Palestinian Parliament in the West Bank city of Ramallah and other Hamas-controlled government buildings in Nablus on Saturday, witnesses said.

Video footage in Nablus showed the Fatah militants loyal to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas planting their flag on the roof of one building as others fired rifles into the air.

Abbas early Sunday nullified a law requiring the Hamas-majority Palestinian parliament to approve Cabinet appointments, The Associated Press reported.

The move came a day after Hamas -- which won parliamentary elections under Prime Minister Ismail Haniya last year -- overtook the presidential compound in Gaza City and consolidated its control over Gaza after defeating Fatah's forces.

Abbas dissolved the coalition government and said he would create an interim government consisting of members of his own Fatah party.

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