Hamas deploys police in Gaza following blasts

GAZA, Sept. 3 -- Palestinian Hamas authorities on Thursday deployed police heavily on main streets and junctions in the Gaza Strip a few days after two strong blasts hit the city with no reports of casualties.

"The deployment comes as part of a plan to strengthen order and security in the Strip," said Rafeeq Abu Hani, a police spokesman.

The policemen were seen stopping cars, searching them and inspecting the identities of travelers, especially on the roads linking the Gaza's south and north towns.

The two explosions took place near two Hamas security compounds in the west of Gaza city.

No one has claimed responsibility for the blasts, which followed threats by a radical Muslim Salafi group to retaliate forthe death of its leader and a group of the al-Qaida-style fighters in August clashes with Hamas in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah.

Hamas has been controlling the Gaza Strip since it routed forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and ousted his secular Fatah movement in 2007.

In the past years, Hamas has completed its control on Gaza but some Islamic radical groups, such as Warriors of God, remain a threat since many of the warriors believe that Hamas has not taken serious steps to impose Islamic codes on the society.

Hamas crushed the Warriors of God and killed their leader, who calls himself Abu Noon al-Maqdissi, in deadly fighting on August 14.