Unidentified militants stormed on Monday an office of the Palestinian state-run television in the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Younis, Palestinian witnesses said.

The militants briefly clashed with security members guarding the building housing the office of the Palestine TV before breaking into it, said the witnesses.

The militants destroyed equipment in the office and smashed the transmitter connecting the office with the TV's headquarters in Gaza City, the witnesses added.

General Director of the Palestine TV Mohammed Dahoudi accused the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) of being behind the storm and slammed the group for attacking a national institution.

But Hamas spokesman in Gaza Sami Abu Zuhri denied any Hamas involvement in the incident.

The Palestine TV was controlled by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, whose Fatah movement was locked in power struggles with the ruling Hamas.

Just before Hamas formed a new Palestinian government in late March after beating Fatah in January elections, Abbas issued a presidential decree, putting the TV station and the official news agency under his control.

Hamas has in the past accused the Palestine TV of disseminating misinformation about the Islamic group.

Source: Xinhua