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Deadly battles shatter Gaza calm | |
(20 minutes later) | |
At least 13 people have died in some of the deadliest fighting between rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah in Gaza for months. | |
Two civilians - one a two-year-old boy - were among those killed, Palestinian medics said. | Two civilians - one a two-year-old boy - were among those killed, Palestinian medics said. |
The clashes erupted after weeks of relative calm and renewed efforts to form a national unity government. | The clashes erupted after weeks of relative calm and renewed efforts to form a national unity government. |
Both Hamas and Fatah said they were suspending talks after the violence, which continued into the night. | |
Both factions also kidnapped members of the opposing side during the day. | Both factions also kidnapped members of the opposing side during the day. |
More than 40 people have died as a result of a power struggle between supporters of the Hamas-led government and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah faction since mid-December. | More than 40 people have died as a result of a power struggle between supporters of the Hamas-led government and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah faction since mid-December. |
Echo of gunfire | Echo of gunfire |
The BBC's Alan Johnston in Gaza says there has been intensive mediation by Egyptian diplomats in an effort to stop the bloodshed there. | The BBC's Alan Johnston in Gaza says there has been intensive mediation by Egyptian diplomats in an effort to stop the bloodshed there. |
He says late in the evening word came that Fatah and Hamas had agreed to order their supporters off the streets. | He says late in the evening word came that Fatah and Hamas had agreed to order their supporters off the streets. |
How can the dialogue go on when there is a bomb underneath the table Tawfiq Abu KhoussaFatah spokesman But our correspondent says both then accused the other of reneging on the deal and clashes continued. | |
Some of the heaviest fighting took place in the Jabaliya refugee camp, where Hamas gunmen laid siege to the home of a local Fatah leader. | |
The gunmen eventually stormed the building and two people were killed. | The gunmen eventually stormed the building and two people were killed. |
Militants linked to Fatah said they had captured at least 19 Hamas supporters in response to the siege. Some were later freed. | |
As night fell the streets of Gaza continued to echo to the sound of gunfire and explosions. | As night fell the streets of Gaza continued to echo to the sound of gunfire and explosions. |
Elsewhere, fighting erupted outside the residences of Mr Abbas and Hamas Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar. | Elsewhere, fighting erupted outside the residences of Mr Abbas and Hamas Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar. |
Mr Zahar's home was damaged after being hit by a rocket-propelled grenade, security sources said. | Mr Zahar's home was damaged after being hit by a rocket-propelled grenade, security sources said. |
Blame exchanged | |
Fatah said it was calling off national unity talks in response to the violence. | Fatah said it was calling off national unity talks in response to the violence. |
"How can the dialogue go on when there is a bomb underneath the table?" Reuters news agency quoted Fatah spokesman Tawfiq Abu Khoussa as saying. | "How can the dialogue go on when there is a bomb underneath the table?" Reuters news agency quoted Fatah spokesman Tawfiq Abu Khoussa as saying. |
But Hamas laid the blame at Fatah's door. | |
"The Fatah movement continues to give a factional, political and media cover to the killers. Hamas has therefore decided to suspend all talks with Fatah," spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said. | |
The violence began overnight when two Hamas members died in what the group said was a roadside bomb attack on a convoy by Fatah militants. | |
The clashes came as Hamas supporters gathered to mark a year since the party defeated Fatah in Palestinian elections. | The clashes came as Hamas supporters gathered to mark a year since the party defeated Fatah in Palestinian elections. |