This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/8082516.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Stand-off over Hamas militants in West Bank Four die in Palestinian clash in West Bank
(about 5 hours later)
One person has been killed in clashes as Palestinian Authority forces tried to arrest several Hamas militants holed up in the West Bank, the PA says. Four people have been killed in clashes as Palestinian Authority forces tried to arrest several Hamas militants holed up in the West Bank.
A member of the security forces died when the militants threw a grenade at them as they surrounded a house in Qalqilya, a PA security spokesman said. Three Hamas militants and a member of the Palestinian Authority security forces died in the clashes, a Palestinian official has said.
Three or four fighters were inside, he said, but all the civilians had left. The clashes took place in the the northern West Bank town of Qalqilya.
The stand-off comes days after six people died in a gun battle in the town between Hamas fighters and police. It comes days after six people died in a gun battle in the town between Hamas fighters and police.
Three people were injured in the latest incident, Palestinian security forces spokesman Major General Adnan Damiri said. A Hamas spokesman in Gaza Strip said the operations against Hamas members had "killed all chances" for the success of the talks in Egypt aimed at reconciling Hamas and the Fatah-led Palestinian Authority.
He said the militants opened fire as soon as PA forces reached the area, and negotiations were continuing with those inside the house. Palestinian security forces spokesman Major General Adnan Damiri said Hamas militants opened fire as soon as PA forces reached the area, and negotiations were held with those inside the house.
The Palestinian Authority has carried out waves of arrests of West Bank residents it alleges are linked to the rival political faction Hamas over the past couple of years.The Palestinian Authority has carried out waves of arrests of West Bank residents it alleges are linked to the rival political faction Hamas over the past couple of years.
But this incident is the second attempted arrest to have ended with deadly clashes in the past week.But this incident is the second attempted arrest to have ended with deadly clashes in the past week.
On Sunday, two Hamas men, three Palestinian policemen and one civilian died as the police attempted to arrest the alleged militants.On Sunday, two Hamas men, three Palestinian policemen and one civilian died as the police attempted to arrest the alleged militants.
Some arrests have been seen by critics as politically motivated and linked to the feud between PA President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction and Hamas in Gaza - although the PA says it is simply enforcing law and order.Some arrests have been seen by critics as politically motivated and linked to the feud between PA President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction and Hamas in Gaza - although the PA says it is simply enforcing law and order.
However, the Palestinian Authority, backed up by US support and training, is also tasked with clamping down on militant activity in the West Bank.However, the Palestinian Authority, backed up by US support and training, is also tasked with clamping down on militant activity in the West Bank.
Hamas posted a statement on its website warning that attempts to "assassinate mujahudeen" - holy fighters - would cause the situation in the West Bank to "blow up".Hamas posted a statement on its website warning that attempts to "assassinate mujahudeen" - holy fighters - would cause the situation in the West Bank to "blow up".