Hamas and Fatah in kidnap clashes

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Militants from rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah have seized members of each other's group, sparking fresh violence in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas kidnapped two Fatah members after an exchange of fire near a base used by Hamas members in northern Gaza.

Fatah then seized several Hamas members, some of whom were later reported to have been released.

In a separate incident, a Peruvian photographer working for the Agence France Press news agency was kidnapped.

Although the number of captured militants was not immediately known, Reuters reported that 10 Hamas gunmen were seized, while Hamas took seven Fatah fighters.

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A Fatah source told the news agency that seven gunmen were later released.

The BBC's Alan Johnston in Gaza says Hamas described their initial raid as a routine policing operation carried out by members of the Hamas-controlled interior ministry.

But, he says, Fatah claims it was a kidnapping and seized Hamas members in return.

The raids are the first serious sign of tensions in almost two weeks, since an Egyptian-brokered mediation resulted in a truce on 17 December.

The truce was called to stem days of violence sparked by Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas's call last Saturday for early elections.

'Seized at gunpoint'

Relations between Fatah and Hamas have been poor since Hamas won a shock election victory in January, ousting Fatah from power.

The kidnapped AFP photographer, named as 50-year-old Jaime Razuri, was reported to have been taken as he entered the news agency's office in Gaza City.

His translator, who witnessed the kidnapping, said that he was seized at gunpoint by two men whose faces were uncovered.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the abduction of the photographer.

Many foreigners have been abducted in Gaza over the past two years. Most are later released unharmed.