Fatah loyalists rally in Ramallah

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Thousands of Fatah supporters have rallied in the West Bank in a show of strength amid a violent power struggle between Palestinian factions.

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, of Fatah, told the crowd his priority was unity and ending violence.

He tried to rebuke gunmen who fired into the air during his speech, adding "gunfire against neighbours and members of other factions" was equally wrong.

Fatah has been locked in conflict with Hamas, which won elections last year.

"We have raised our rifles against the occupation [Israel] and that is a legitimate right," Mr Abbas said. "But it is forbidden to raise rifles against one another."

Correspondents said militants from the pro-Fatah al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades ignored Mr Abbas's plea and unleashed salvo after salvo above demonstrators' heads during the speech and afterwards.

Early polls

The rally was held to mark the 42nd anniversary of the founding of Fatah by late leader Yasser Arafat.

Supporters were gathered in the Muqataa compound in Ramallah, where Arafat was buried in November 2004.

On Sunday, there was a large Fatah gathering in Gaza, after which leaders claimed to have "won back the streets" from Hamas, in what is considered a stronghold of the Islamist militant group.

Mr Abbas said he would keep up his call for early elections after talks failed to form unity government with Hamas.

The Palestinian territories have been in crisis since Hamas's election last year - amid an Israeli and western boycott and rising factional tension.

Hamas opposes the election plan, calling it a coup against a legitimately elected government.

More than 30 people have been killed in factional violence in the last month.