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Hamas leader urges Gaza restraint Abbas tackles Palestinian tension
(20 minutes later)
The exiled political leader of Hamas has urged restraint to prevent civil war breaking out in Gaza and the West Bank between Palestinian factions. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is delivering a speech to address the escalating tensions between the Palestinian factions, Hamas and Fatah.
Khaled Mashaal, based in Syria, said the Palestinians' fight was against Israeli occupation, not each other. Mr Abbas said he would continue to search for a political settlement to "the chaos and lack of security" in the Palestinian territories.
His comments come after a week of escalating violence between Hamas and President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah. He also denied there had been a conspiracy to kill Prime Minister Ismail Haniya this week.
Mr Abbas is expected to use a speech on Saturday to offer ways out of the cycle of violence. There has been speculation that Mr Abbas might call an early election.
One option might be to threaten early elections - an option already condemned by Hamas.
There have been several bouts of street fighting since Hamas won a sweeping victory in parliamentary elections last January.There have been several bouts of street fighting since Hamas won a sweeping victory in parliamentary elections last January.
Several efforts to form a national unity government have broken down.Several efforts to form a national unity government have broken down.
Mr Abbas is leaning towards calling early elections, one of his senior advisers Saeb Erekat said. Our fight is against the [Israeli] occupation and we will not let ourselves be drawn into a civil war Khaled Mashaal Hamas political leader
Our fight is against the [Israeli] occupation and we will not let ourselves be drawn into a civil war Khaled Mashaal Hamas political leader href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6185209.stm" class="">Blair: 'Critical moment' "The president's choice is between bullets and ballots. He will choose ballots. Ballots are the only way to avoid the prospect of a civil war," a senior adviser Saeb Erekat said before the speech.
"The president's choice is between bullets and ballots. He will choose ballots. Ballots are the only way to avoid the prospect of a civil war," he said. But it has been widely thought, though, that Mr Abbas is very unlikely to go so far as naming a date for early polls, says the BBC's Alan Johnston in Gaza.
But it is widely thought, though, that Mr Abbas is very unlikely to go so far as naming a date for early polls, says the BBC's Alan Johnston in Gaza. He knows that Hamas would bitterly oppose what it would see as a Fatah faction manoeuvre designed to reverse the mandate it won in the election. Mr Abbas tends to be more conciliatory than confrontational and he will be wary of inflaming the current tensions further, our correspondent says.
He knows that Hamas would bitterly oppose what it would see as a Fatah faction manoeuvre designed to reverse the mandate it won in the election. Hamas said it would boycott Mr Abbas's speech to the Palestinian parliament, in protest at "dangerous and bloody" recent events.
Mr Abbas tends to be more conciliatory than confrontational and he will be wary of inflaming the current tensions further, our correspondent says.
Hamas has said it will boycott Mr Abbas' speech, which he is due to deliver at 1000 GMT to the Palestinian parliament, in protest at "dangerous and bloody" recent events.
Bad relationsBad relations
Egyptian diplomats based in Gaza are trying to mediate between the two sides.Egyptian diplomats based in Gaza are trying to mediate between the two sides.
They have stepped in a number of times before to calm the situation provoked by the chronically bad relations between Hamas, the largest faction, and Fatah.They have stepped in a number of times before to calm the situation provoked by the chronically bad relations between Hamas, the largest faction, and Fatah.
But the diplomats' task may be tougher than ever, amid a sense that the current tensions are on a higher plane than seen previously, our correspondent says.But the diplomats' task may be tougher than ever, amid a sense that the current tensions are on a higher plane than seen previously, our correspondent says.
Speaking from Damascus, Hamas's exiled leader Khaled Mashaal called for restraint to "protect Palestinian blood" and "Palestinian unity".Speaking from Damascus, Hamas's exiled leader Khaled Mashaal called for restraint to "protect Palestinian blood" and "Palestinian unity".
We did not join this movement to become ministers but rather to become martyrs Ismail HaniyaPalestinian Prime Minister In pictures: Rivals clash Q&A: Palestinian crisisWe did not join this movement to become ministers but rather to become martyrs Ismail HaniyaPalestinian Prime Minister In pictures: Rivals clash Q&A: Palestinian crisis
In an interview broadcast by Hamas radio in Gaza City, Mr Mashaal said: "Our fight is against the [Israeli] occupation and we will not let ourselves be drawn into a civil war."In an interview broadcast by Hamas radio in Gaza City, Mr Mashaal said: "Our fight is against the [Israeli] occupation and we will not let ourselves be drawn into a civil war."
The past week has been marked by attacks, counter-attacks and mutual accusations.The past week has been marked by attacks, counter-attacks and mutual accusations.
Hamas blamed Fatah for a shooting that targeted PM Ismail Haniya on Thursday.Hamas blamed Fatah for a shooting that targeted PM Ismail Haniya on Thursday.
Mr Haniya's car was attacked by gunmen while crossing into Gaza from Egypt, and one of his bodyguards died in the incident.Mr Haniya's car was attacked by gunmen while crossing into Gaza from Egypt, and one of his bodyguards died in the incident.
A Hamas spokesman blamed a senior Fatah official, former security chief Mohammad Dahlan, for the attack - an accusation he rejected.A Hamas spokesman blamed a senior Fatah official, former security chief Mohammad Dahlan, for the attack - an accusation he rejected.
The shoot-out at the Rafah border crossing led to more clashes on Friday, both in the West Bank and in Gaza City.The shoot-out at the Rafah border crossing led to more clashes on Friday, both in the West Bank and in Gaza City.
Some 32 people were injured when Palestinian police loyal to Fatah fought Hamas supporters in the West Bank town of Ramallah.Some 32 people were injured when Palestinian police loyal to Fatah fought Hamas supporters in the West Bank town of Ramallah.
Growing crisisGrowing crisis
Despite the tensions, Mr Haniya called for calm and unity among Palestinians at a rally on Friday marking the 19th anniversary of the founding of Hamas.Despite the tensions, Mr Haniya called for calm and unity among Palestinians at a rally on Friday marking the 19th anniversary of the founding of Hamas.
Masked gunmen took to the streets as tens of thousands of supporters at a Gaza City stadium heard Mr Haniya vow to pursue those who attacked his convoy and bring them to justice.Masked gunmen took to the streets as tens of thousands of supporters at a Gaza City stadium heard Mr Haniya vow to pursue those who attacked his convoy and bring them to justice.
He said Hamas knew who was responsible, but gave no names.He said Hamas knew who was responsible, but gave no names.
The crisis in the Palestinian Authority has grown since Hamas came to power.The crisis in the Palestinian Authority has grown since Hamas came to power.
Western donors have withheld aid payments in protest at Hamas's refusal to renounce violence or recognise Israel.Western donors have withheld aid payments in protest at Hamas's refusal to renounce violence or recognise Israel.
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told Reuters news agency she would seek tens of millions of dollars in extra funding to boost Mr Abbas's security forces.US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told Reuters news agency she would seek tens of millions of dollars in extra funding to boost Mr Abbas's security forces.