RAMALLAH, March 30 (Xinhuanet) -- Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas was unhurt by a group of gunmen shooting at his compound in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Wednesday, witnesses and security officials said.

    Shortly after the shooting, the group of 15 gunmen who said they belong to an armed group linked to the ruling Fatah movement went on a shooting rampage throughout Ramallah and damaged several restaurants, said the sources.

    One security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the security forces were "considering taking harsh steps against them."

    After being elected as the new Palestinian leader to succeed late Yasser Arafat, Abbas vowed to reform the Palestinian National Authority.

    But he has met with resistance from militant groups who have been waging more than four years of "uprising" against Israel.Enditem