Egypt Sends Fuel to Power-Starved Gaza

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) -- Officials say Egypt has begun trucking 1 million liters of cheap diesel fuel to Gaza's power plant, in a rare delivery meant to ease a crippling electricity crisis in the Hamas-ruled enclave.

Wednesday's shipment appears to undercut Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who has stepped up financial pressure on Gaza to force the militant Hamas to cede ground there. Hamas seized Gaza in 2007.

The power plant stopped operating in April after Hamas could no longer afford to buy heavily taxed fuel from Abbas' West Bank-based government. Gazans were left with four hours of electricity a day.

Abbas also asked Israel to reduce the electricity it sends to Gaza, covering about one-third of the territory's needs. This electricity, paid for by the Abbas government, has been reduced by one-fourth since Monday.

(KA)