Gunmen shot and killed a well-known adviser to Palestinian president, Yasser Arafat in Gaza City early Tuesday, security officials said.
Khalil al-Zaben, 59, was hit by 12 bullets as he left his office in the Sabra neighborhood, hospital and security officials said, according to The AP.
Al-Zaben published a weekly magazine devoted to Palestinian affairs and human rights. He joined forces with Arafat in the 1960s and served in a number of capacities, including media adviser and personal secretary.
Palestinian police rushed to the scene of the shooting and began investigating. Security officials said they did not know who killed al-Zaben. Al-Zaben returned to Gaza along with Arafat in 1994.
Two of his brothers are Palestinian ambassadors in South America, and his son works as an airline pilot there. He is also survived by his wife and three daughters.
Meanwhile, in West Bank village of Yata, Israeli troops killed a former Palestinian policeman, identified as Muhammad Abu Rajab. According to Palestinian sources, the occupation forces stormed into the village, surrounded his house and then killed him. The soldiers started to demolish parts of the building, but later admitted that Abu Rajab was not the "target" of their operation. (Albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
