New Hamas leader blasts Israel, Bush

GAZA CITY, Gaza, March 28 (UPI) -- Abdel Aziz Rantisi, the new leader of Hamas, spoke in Gaza City Sunday, calling U.S. President George W. Bush an enemy of God.

Rantisi, who took over the leadership of Hamas following the assassination of the founder of that Palestinian Islamic fundamentalist organization, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, spoke during a memorial service for Yassin, CNN reported.

"Bush is the enemy of God, the enemy of Islam, an enemy of Muslims," Rantisi said at Gaza's Islamic University, where thousands had gathered to remember Yassin.

Yassin and seven others were killed in an Israeli air strike last Monday.

Rantisi said it came as no surprise the United States vetoed a United Nations' resolution condemning the killing of Yassin. He said the United States consistently sides with the government of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

"America declared war against God. Sharon declared war against God and God declared war against America, Bush and Sharon," Rantisi said. "The war of God continues against them and I can see the victory coming up from the land of Palestine by the hand of Hamas."

Israel blames Hamas for more than 400 attacks that have killed 377 Israelis since the current Palestinian uprising began in September 2000, CNN said.