Hamas detains Army of Islam leader

GAZA CITY: Palestinian extremist group the Army of Islam, which claims to be holding abducted BBC journalist Alan Johnston, accused Hamas on Monday of kidnapping one of its leaders.   

In a message sent to journalists, the group said members of Hamas's armed wing "wounded and kidnapped" Khattab al-Maqdissi overnight.   

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said Maqdissi was "arrested" after he and other Army of Islam elements opened fire on members of the Executive Force, the Islamist movement's self-declared police.   

He also charged that the Doghmush family, which heads the Army of Islam, had kidnapped 10 Hamas university students.   

On Saturday, the powerful clan accused Hamas of kidnapping five of its members and of killing a sixth.   

Army of Islam is the radical fringe group which claims to be holding Johnston, a British journalist working for the BBC, who was abducted at gunpoint on March 12 and has been held in captivity for 112 days.   

Tensions between the group and Hamas have mounted since Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip in an armed takeover last month.   

Army of Islam accuses Hamas of exerting undue pressure on the group to release Johnston and has stepped up threats to kill the newsman.