Special report: Mideast peace conference    

    RAMALLAH, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Islamic Hamas movement on Saturday slammed the detention of nine of its members by security forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in West Bank cities.

    In a statement sent to the press, Hamas said that among the arrested, three each from Hebron, Nablus and Jenin.

    Meanwhile, five Hamas militants were killed in predawn Israeli airstrikes in southern Gaza Strip, which has been under the rule of Hamas since it routed the pro-Abbas security forces in June.

    Commenting on the two incidents, Hamas said West Bank detentions by pro-Fatah security services and the Israeli air attacks in Gaza showed part of the collaboration between the moderate Fatah movement and Israel after the U.S.-sponsored Annapolis conference on Mideast.

    The actions indicated "mutual implementation, between Fatah andthe Zionists, of the goodwill intentions that emerged after Annapolis meeting," Hamas said in the statement.

    Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert launched first formal peace talks in seven years last week with the goal of forging a deal by the end of 2008 to create a Palestinian state.

    Olmert has vowed not to carry out any peace deal until Abbas reins in radical militant groups, including Hamas.

    That is to say, the U.S.-backed push for a future Palestinian state hinges on Abbas' success in getting Hamas to give up the Gaza Strip and disarm.

    "The new Fatah plans to crackdown on Hamas in the West Bank have increased to the level of chasing down those whom the Zionists have never thought to arrest," Hamas' statement continued.

    "In this way, Fatah has preceded the Zionists several steps forward in pursuing Hamas as a party, members and supporters," the statement added.