(30 Sep 2006)
1. Wide shot of street
2. Various of tyres alight, people milling around
3. Tyres being burnt
4. People in street
5. Various of people blocking roads
STORYLINE:
Thousands of government employees and security officials filled the streets of Gaza City on Saturday, burning tyres, blocking roads and firing in the air, to protest delays and complications in receiving their long-overdue salaries.
In the Nusseirat refugee camp, hundreds gathered to protest against the economic embargo on the Palestinian Authority.
The Palestinian government on Thursday began paying partial salaries to 165,000 civil servants who haven't received their full wages in months.
The individual payments of 350 US dollars came from money donated to the government by Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
But government employees complained that in some cases, the money hadn't arrived, and in others they were left with nothing after Palestinian banks had deducted commissions and interest and paid off existing loans.
The protesters closed the main road between Gaza City and Khan Younis, restricting movement between Gaza City and the southern Gaza Strip.
Israel and the West froze economic ties with the Palestinian Authority after the militant Hamas group took power in March.
Hamas has refused international demands that it recognise Israel, accept signed peace agreements and renounce violence.
With the aid cut off, the government has been unable for six months to pay full salaries to its workers, a major part of the Palestinian workforce.
Government workers, including teachers, doctors and security officers, have repeatedly staged strikes demanding the salaries and calling for the resignation of the Hamas government.
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