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Hamas accuses rival of PM attack Hamas accuses rival of PM attack
(20 minutes later)
The Palestinian Hamas group has accused a key figure in the rival Fatah faction of trying to assassinate Prime Minister Ismail Haniya as he returned to Gaza.The Palestinian Hamas group has accused a key figure in the rival Fatah faction of trying to assassinate Prime Minister Ismail Haniya as he returned to Gaza.
Hamas said Mohammad Dahlan orchestrated the attack as Mr Haniya crossed Gaza's southern border with Egypt.Hamas said Mohammad Dahlan orchestrated the attack as Mr Haniya crossed Gaza's southern border with Egypt.
Hamas said Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who also heads Fatah, bears some responsibility.
A bodyguard was killed and Mr Haniya's son was among five injured in the gun battle at the Rafah checkpoint.A bodyguard was killed and Mr Haniya's son was among five injured in the gun battle at the Rafah checkpoint.
Mr Dahlan has rejected the accusations, saying that Hamas, the governing party, was trying to "mask its failures".
Mr Haniya's convoy was returning to Gaza after being held up for hours following a dispute with Israel over tens of millions of dollars in donations he was carrying.Mr Haniya's convoy was returning to Gaza after being held up for hours following a dispute with Israel over tens of millions of dollars in donations he was carrying.
He left the reported $30m (£15.3m) on the Egyptian side with his aides.He left the reported $30m (£15.3m) on the Egyptian side with his aides.
Correspondents say the attack on Mr Haniya - and Hamas's open accusation of such a prominent opponent - have dramatically raised the stakes in the tense political struggle in the Palestinian territories.Correspondents say the attack on Mr Haniya - and Hamas's open accusation of such a prominent opponent - have dramatically raised the stakes in the tense political struggle in the Palestinian territories.
'Grave threat''Grave threat'
Hamas spokesman Ismail Radwan said the attack was "an assassination attempt carried out by traitors led by Mohammad Dahlan".Hamas spokesman Ismail Radwan said the attack was "an assassination attempt carried out by traitors led by Mohammad Dahlan".
Mr Dahlan, the former minister of internal security and a fierce critic of Hamas, has yet to comment. Mr Dahlan is a former minister of internal security and a fierce critic of Hamas.
He led a crackdown in the 1990s on militants who refused to acknowledge the new Palestinian Authority. In the 1990s he led a crackdown on militants who refused to acknowledge the new Palestinian Authority (PA).
Fatah spokesman Tawfiq Abu Khoussa rejected Hamas' claims. Fatah spokesman Tawfiq Abu Khoussa also rejected Hamas' claims.
"Fatah has condemned the incident and is demanding the formation of an official investigation committee," he said."Fatah has condemned the incident and is demanding the formation of an official investigation committee," he said.
"These accusations are posing a grave threat to Palestinian unity.""These accusations are posing a grave threat to Palestinian unity."
Mr Abbas has said he regretted the attack. PA President Mahmoud Abbas, the head of Fatah, said he regretted the attack, but Hamas said he had to share some responsibility.
Mr Haniya, after his return to Gaza City, said: "We know who opened fire."Mr Haniya, after his return to Gaza City, said: "We know who opened fire."
Israeli Deputy Defence Minister Ephraim Sneh said his first response was to regret the gunmen had missed Mr Haniya. Israeli Deputy Defence Minister Ephraim Sneh said his first response was to regret that the gunmen had missed Mr Haniya.
He told Israeli radio: "Emotionally, it was indeed my feeling. But upon coldly reconsidering it, I do not believe that that would have solved the problem."He told Israeli radio: "Emotionally, it was indeed my feeling. But upon coldly reconsidering it, I do not believe that that would have solved the problem."
Hamas has deployed armed militants to key points in Gaza in a show of force following the fire fight.Hamas has deployed armed militants to key points in Gaza in a show of force following the fire fight.
Chaotic scenesChaotic scenes
Inter-faction tensions have increased since the killing of three sons of a pro-Fatah security chief on Monday.Inter-faction tensions have increased since the killing of three sons of a pro-Fatah security chief on Monday.
Hamas militants take cover in the fire fight at the borderMr Haniya had tried to cut short his first trip abroad as prime minister to deal with the crisis.Hamas militants take cover in the fire fight at the borderMr Haniya had tried to cut short his first trip abroad as prime minister to deal with the crisis.
But Israel on Thursday closed the Gaza border, saying the tens of millions Mr Haniya was carrying as he returned from his foreign trip would fund "terrorist operations".But Israel on Thursday closed the Gaza border, saying the tens of millions Mr Haniya was carrying as he returned from his foreign trip would fund "terrorist operations".
Mr Haniya crossed late in the evening following hours of intense negotiations, leaving the money on the Egyptian side. But at the border, guards allied to Fatah exchanged fire with Mr Haniya's security forces.Mr Haniya crossed late in the evening following hours of intense negotiations, leaving the money on the Egyptian side. But at the border, guards allied to Fatah exchanged fire with Mr Haniya's security forces.
The BBC's Alan Johnston in Gaza said that during chaotic scenes gunfire rattled around the entrance hall to the customs hall as Mr Haniya's bodyguards shielded him.The BBC's Alan Johnston in Gaza said that during chaotic scenes gunfire rattled around the entrance hall to the customs hall as Mr Haniya's bodyguards shielded him.
Television pictures showed Mr Haniya's jeep manoeuvring to avoid bullets.Television pictures showed Mr Haniya's jeep manoeuvring to avoid bullets.
Hamas won elections in January, but has struggled in government amid a Western aid boycott against the militant Islamic group, which refuses to renounce violence and recognise Israel.Hamas won elections in January, but has struggled in government amid a Western aid boycott against the militant Islamic group, which refuses to renounce violence and recognise Israel.
The Palestinian Authority has been unable to pay full salaries to its 165,000 workers.The Palestinian Authority has been unable to pay full salaries to its 165,000 workers.