RAMALLAH, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Fatah movement's armed wing, al-Aqsa Brigades, slammed on Saturday an official statement by the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) which said the group was dismantled.

    In a press release, al-Aqsa Brigades denied the statements of Abdel Razaq al-Yahia, interior minister of the interim government based in this West Bank city, who said the group was dismantled and doesn't exist any longer.

Masked Palestinian militants from the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, an armed wing of President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement, take part in a rally in support of Abbas in the West Bank city of Nablus Jan. 8, 2007.(File Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    "We tell al-Yahia that we are here and will never drop our arms or accept to be disarmed. We will continue being the pioneers of struggle on the front line to gain the dignity and freedom of our people back," said the group.

    Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades was founded at the beginning of the second Intifada which broke out in late September 2000 against Israel. The group was getting direct finance and support from late leader Yasser Arafat.

    However, after Arafat died in November 2004, the group was divided into minor groups in the West Bank and Gaza. Some of them get local finance and others get support from figures in various Middle East countries.

    On Friday, one of al-Aqsa Brigades sub-groups claimed responsibility for killing two Israelis near Hebron in the West Bank.

    On Saturday Israeli Radio reported that the Israeli army detained five al-Aqsa Brigades members, suspected for being involved in the armed ambush on the two Israelis on Friday.

    "We strongly warn anyone who plans to target our groups, and we say to those who want to uproot us or dismantle us, that they will be treated as traitors, and collaborators of Israel," said the group.

    Earlier on Saturday, al-Yehia told Voice of Palestine radio that the militia have "positively reacted and committed themselves to Mr. President's decree which bans and dissolves all the militia and armed groups."

    Al-Yehia claimed that the members of the brigades were "cooperative" after the PNA assured them of their personal safety.