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| Poll call escalates Gaza violence | Poll call escalates Gaza violence |
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| The Gaza Strip has seen more clashes a day after Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas called for early elections to end the economic and security crisis. | The Gaza Strip has seen more clashes a day after Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas called for early elections to end the economic and security crisis. |
| Gun battles erupted in Gaza City between rival supporters of Mr Abbas's Fatah faction and the governing Hamas. | Gun battles erupted in Gaza City between rival supporters of Mr Abbas's Fatah faction and the governing Hamas. |
| A senior Hamas minister's convoy was attacked, while shots were fired at Mr Abbas's residence in Gaza. | A senior Hamas minister's convoy was attacked, while shots were fired at Mr Abbas's residence in Gaza. |
| PM Ismail Haniya, whose Hamas-led government took office in March, said new polls could incite further unrest. | PM Ismail Haniya, whose Hamas-led government took office in March, said new polls could incite further unrest. |
| "The Palestinian government rejects the call for holding early parliamentary elections because it is not constitutional and may lead to a large disturbance in the Palestinian territory," said Mr Haniya. | "The Palestinian government rejects the call for holding early parliamentary elections because it is not constitutional and may lead to a large disturbance in the Palestinian territory," said Mr Haniya. |
| In his first public comments on Mr Abbas's speech, Mr Haniya said it was "inflammatory". | In his first public comments on Mr Abbas's speech, Mr Haniya said it was "inflammatory". |
| The Palestinian government rejects this call for early elections and considers it a coup against Palestinian legitimacy Hamas government statement Unrest alarms press Q&A: Palestinian crisis Send us your comments | The Palestinian government rejects this call for early elections and considers it a coup against Palestinian legitimacy Hamas government statement Unrest alarms press Q&A: Palestinian crisis Send us your comments |
| A 19-year-old woman was killed in the crossfire as Hamas and Fatah gunmen clashes near the presidential compound. | |
| Mr Abbas on Sunday met Palestinian election officials, who said they needed at least three months to prepare for new presidential and parliamentary polls. | Mr Abbas on Sunday met Palestinian election officials, who said they needed at least three months to prepare for new presidential and parliamentary polls. |
| "We explained to him the phases of holding elections, and how much time it would take for holding such elections, which is at least three months, including challenges," the head of the Central Election Commission, Hanna Nasser, said. | "We explained to him the phases of holding elections, and how much time it would take for holding such elections, which is at least three months, including challenges," the head of the Central Election Commission, Hanna Nasser, said. |
| In a major policy speech in Ramallah on Saturday, Mr Abbas blamed Hamas for the crisis, saying the Palestinian people were suffering from an economic siege that had halved incomes. | In a major policy speech in Ramallah on Saturday, Mr Abbas blamed Hamas for the crisis, saying the Palestinian people were suffering from an economic siege that had halved incomes. |
| In January, Hamas trounced the long-dominant Fatah at the polls. | In January, Hamas trounced the long-dominant Fatah at the polls. |
| Sunday's violence started with a pre-dawn raid But the election of a group which refuses to recognise Israel and renounce violence triggered the suspension of Western aid to the Palestinians. | Sunday's violence started with a pre-dawn raid But the election of a group which refuses to recognise Israel and renounce violence triggered the suspension of Western aid to the Palestinians. |
| For months, the two sides have tried and failed to agree on a national unity government to find a way out of the crisis but as the politics have faltered, tensions have risen, provoking fears of civil war. | For months, the two sides have tried and failed to agree on a national unity government to find a way out of the crisis but as the politics have faltered, tensions have risen, provoking fears of civil war. |
| The election call appears to have deepened the already great rivalry between Hamas and Fatah, says the BBC's Nick Thorpe in Jerusalem. | The election call appears to have deepened the already great rivalry between Hamas and Fatah, says the BBC's Nick Thorpe in Jerusalem. |
| A pre-dawn raid by masked gunmen on a training camp for the presidential guard left one guard dead. Hamas denied any involvement. | A pre-dawn raid by masked gunmen on a training camp for the presidential guard left one guard dead. Hamas denied any involvement. |
| Hours later, Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar of Hamas escaped injury when gunmen opened fire on his convoy, an attack he blamed on Fatah. | Hours later, Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar of Hamas escaped injury when gunmen opened fire on his convoy, an attack he blamed on Fatah. |
| Ministries | Ministries |
| That incident provoked a fierce gun battle on the main streets of Gaza during which Hamas gunmen fired on Mr Abbas's empty Gaza residence. There was also shooting outside some government ministries. | That incident provoked a fierce gun battle on the main streets of Gaza during which Hamas gunmen fired on Mr Abbas's empty Gaza residence. There was also shooting outside some government ministries. |
| Mr Abbas' call was welcomed by outside powersMany Palestinians say the president has no right to dissolve the government, which was elected in January and is due to remain in office until 2010. | Mr Abbas' call was welcomed by outside powersMany Palestinians say the president has no right to dissolve the government, which was elected in January and is due to remain in office until 2010. |
| But internationally, Mr Abbas's call was widely welcomed. The US administration expressed the hope that fresh elections could help end violence in the region. | But internationally, Mr Abbas's call was widely welcomed. The US administration expressed the hope that fresh elections could help end violence in the region. |
| Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair - who is touring the Middle East - urged the international community to back Mr Abbas's effort to break the deadlock. | Meanwhile, UK Prime Minister Tony Blair - who is touring the Middle East - urged the international community to back Mr Abbas's effort to break the deadlock. |
| Israel said Mr Abbas had its support in his attempt to bring peace to the Palestinian territories. | Israel said Mr Abbas had its support in his attempt to bring peace to the Palestinian territories. |