Palestinian Authority executes 4 convicted killers
JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Four convicted killers were executed Sunday by Palestinian security forces in Gaza, a Palestinian Interior Ministry spokesman said.
Three of the men were hanged and the other was executed by shooting, said Tawfik Abu Houssa.
Executions by the Palestinian Authority must be approved by President Mahmoud Abbas.
International human rights groups have criticized past executions approved by Abbas' predecessor, Yasser Arafat.
Growing lawlessness and anarchy in Gaza prompted Abbas to meet with representatives of Palestinian militant groups in Gaza on Thursday, a bid to maintain a fragile cease-fire with Israel.
Since that meeting with Abbas, militants and Palestinian security officials have clashed at least twice in Gaza, including a shooting at the home of a Palestinian security chief, Rashid Abu Shbak.
