WRAP Thousands march in protest calling for payment of back salary

(5 Sep 2006) SHOTLIST Gaza City, Gaza Strip 1. Wide shot demonstration by security forces winding through street, protesters chanting 2. Various mid shot demonstrators, some in uniform, approaching, shooting in air 3. Mid shot demonstrators including men on motorbikes wearing yellow headbands, carrying yellow banners 4. Mid shot woman waving Palestinian flag, chanting protesters 5. Wide shot demonstrators 6. Closer shot top of crowd, many carrying guns 7. Little boy on father's shoulders 8. People climbing on parliament building, audio sirens, pull out to wide shot of street outside, demonstrators 9. Demonstrators coming through arch at entrance to government building compound 10. Demonstrators outside building, various of young men ripping bits off building 11. Angry men outside shouting and trying to get in building 12. Angry demonstrators on steps of building Nablus, West Bank 13. Exterior of Nablus Clinic, pan to protesters standing underneath a tarpaulin holding up signs (striking health workers) 14. Mid shot pan protesters carrying placards with appeal messages in English and Arabic protesting their rights and saying their children are hungry and need milk 15. Wide shot protesters outside clinic 16. Protesters start march through streets Ramallah, West Bank 17. Wide shot of traffic 18. Various of closed shops STORYLINE: There were strikes and angry demonstrations across Gaza and the West Bank on Tuesday, as public sector workers protested at not being paid. In Gaza City, more than 5,000 angry Palestinian security officers marched through the streets, firing in the air and chanting, before converging outside the parliament building, demanding payment of their salaries. Palestinian civil servants say they haven't been paid in months, because the world has cut off funds to the Hamas-led government over its harsh anti-Israel policies. They threw rocks at the government building, broke windows and pulled pieces off the building in the most intense outburst of anger at the Hamas-led government since widespread strikes began three days ago. The security officers' vehement protest demanding that the Hamas-led government pay them their long overdue wages led to fears that the labour unrest could spiral into violence across the already chaotic Gaza Strip. The protest had been banned on Monday by President Mahmoud Abbas, who said security officers did not have the right to hold marches against the government. However, thousands of armed police began gathering in the streets of Gaza City on Tuesday morning in preparation for the protest. Shops along the protest route throughout downtown were shuttered and closed, some in solidarity and others fearing violence. The protesting officers waved banners, fired in the air and called for the government to resign if it could not pay their salaries. Meanwhile, in the West Bank, health workers went on strike in Nablus. Strikes have spread through the public sector, shutting down vital services, and tempers are flaring. At Rafidia Hospital in Nablus, where nurses and support staff went on strike last week, hospital workers limited their treatment to emergency cases, infuriating patients who were turned away. In one of the West Bank's best-equipped facilities, Ramallah Hospital, everyone from doctors to cooks were on strike, and the emergency room was empty. One baby was being treated inside, the doctors said. The hospital turned away about 10 cases on Sunday, said Dr. Mohammed, an emergency doctor on night duty, who gave only his first name because he did not want to appear to be taking sides in the strike dispute. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...