MIDDLE EAST:Palestinian leaders yesterday called for an end to factional violence after another day of street battles between Fatah and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip left five people dead and effectively shredded a truce reached by the two groups on Sunday.
In one gun battle, which erupted outside Gaza's main hospital, a member of Hamas' special security force was killed, while Fatah sources reported that two of their members had been abducted by a Hamas-led police unit, shot dead and their bodies dumped in the street.
While Fatah and Hamas officials traded accusations, both president Mahmoud Abbas, who heads Fatah, and prime minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, called for an end to what is the worst factional violence - 14 people have been killed so far - since the creation of the Palestinian Authority over 12 years ago.
"I call on everyone without exception to stop the shooting, the murdering and all related operations," Mr Abbas said.
"I emphasise that dialogue is the only way to achieve our national goals."
Mr Haniyeh said the Palestinian people would "be united in front of the occupation and aggression and will not be engaged, despite the wounds of the past few days, in internal fighting." But, in a speech that was televised, he also blamed Mr Abbas for the violence and for the breakdown in talks last month over the formation of a national unity government.
Factional violence escalated after Mr Abbas announced on Saturday that he would call early elections in a bid to break the impasse between himself and Hamas, which controls the parliament, over the creation of a unity government. Mr Abbas had hoped that by setting up such a government he could persuade western countries to lift crippling sanctions imposed since Hamas, which refuses to recognise Israel, won elections last January.
While fighting was less intense on Monday fierce gun battles erupted again yesterday. In one incident in Gaza City, two Fatah militants were killed and five people were injured, among them children. In another incident, Fatah officials said Hamas militants fired two mortar shells at security forces loyal to Mr Abbas near the Shati refugee camp.
At Shifa hospital, where the Hamas member was killed and 11 people injured, a gunfight erupted as militants from both sides battled to ensure a clear path to the hospital for their injured. During the battle, which lasted about an hour, members of both organisations took up positions on rooftops and fired rocket-propelled grenades at each other.
Later, it was reported that Palestinian security chiefs loyal to Hamas and Fatah had agreed to withdraw their forces from the streets of Gaza. The previous ceasefire deal broke down within 24 hours and it was unclear whether this one, brokered by Egyptian mediators, would hold.
Meanwhile Israeli prime minister Ehud Olmert met King Abdullah of Jordan yesterday to discuss reviving peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.