GAZA CITY: Hamas claimed yesterday it caught a would-be suicide bomber sent by members of the rival Fatah movement to assassinate Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

Hamas provided no evidence, and the allegations were denied by the office of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

The allegations were presented by former Hamas Interior Minister Said Siyam in a Press conference in Gaza City.

Siyam said the alleged assailant was in custody, and that his farewell video would eventually be made public. Siyam claimed the man had planned to blow himself up during mosque prayers led by Haniyeh.

Siyam also alleged that a senior Abbas aide was aware of the alleged plot.

Abbas' office dismissed the allegations as lies intended to divert attention from Hamas' difficulties in ruling Gaza.

The statement reiterated that Abbas would not conduct talks with Hamas unless the group stepped aside in Gaza.