Radical Group May Declare Islamic Caliphate in Gaza
By Julie Stahl
CNSNews.com Jerusalem Bureau Chief
August 24, 2006

Jerusalem (CNSNews.com) - Encouraged by Hizballah's perceived victory
in Lebanon, another radical Islamic party may declare an Islamic
caliphate in the Gaza Strip on Friday, another step in its effort 
to see Islam rule the world.

The Hizb ut-Tahrir (Liberation Party) advocates replacing all Muslim
governments in the world with one Islamic leader who would then
declare the establishment of a worldwide Islamic caliphate.

Although the move has been described as largely symbolic, it
highlights a growing trend among Palestinians in the Gaza Strip,
analysts say.

Hizb ut-Tahrir, an international Sunni Islamic movement, has gained
popularity with Palestinians since Hizballah put up more of a fight 
in southern Lebanon than Israel and the world expected.

The group rallied thousands of Palestinians to take part in a
demonstration in Gaza City on Tuesday, which marked the anniversary 
of the collapse of the Ottoman Empire (the Islamic Turkish Empire that
ruled the Middle East for some 400 years).

According to the Jerusalem Post, protesters called for Israel to be
wiped off the map and they called for the establishment of an Islamic
caliphate to rule the Palestinian Authority.

[...]

Full article at "Cybercast News Service"
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/viewstory.asp?Page=/
ForeignBureaus/archive/200608/INT20060824c.html

Cheers, Steve..

---