Palestinian police arrest West Bank "plotters"

RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) - Palestinian security forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas have seized large cash sums and West Bank homes from men they accuse of plotting to kill government officials, a security source said on Saturday.

The official, who could not be named, said evidence would only be produced "at a later date" but added that over the past few weeks men known to have connections to Islamist Hamas have been arrested at a number of locations in the West Bank.

"Security forces have seized some $8.5 million in cash since March until now and have arrested a number of people who have recently purchased homes adjacent to government and military installations, mainly in the city of Nablus. We will produce the evidence at the appropriate time," the official told Reuters.

He said investigators suspected that the location of the homes allowed operatives loyal to Hamas to observe movements by government officials and security forces.

The official said forces had also seized uniforms used by various Palestinian security forces.

"Hamas's intention is to establish a parallel security services in the West Bank," the source said.

There was no immediate comment from Hamas.

Last week, Tayyeb Abdel Rahim, a top aide to Abbas, said about 10 Hamas loyalists were arrested on suspicion of planning attacks against Palestinian officials and institutions in the West Bank. Hamas said the accusations were false.

Saturday's accusations are the latest in series of claims and counter-claims by the rival factions, both of whom seek dominate the Palestinian political scene.