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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Deadly battles shatter Gaza calm | Deadly battles shatter Gaza calm |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| At least 13 people have died in Gaza after some of the worst fighting for months broke out between rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah. | At least 13 people have died in Gaza after some of the worst fighting for months broke out between rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah. |
| Two civilians, one a two-year-old boy, were among those killed, according to Palestinian medical sources. | Two civilians, one a two-year-old boy, were among those killed, according to Palestinian medical sources. |
| 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. |
| Hamas and Fatah said they were suspending talks after the violence, which was continuing early on Saturday. | Hamas and Fatah said they were suspending talks after the violence, which was continuing early on Saturday. |
| Reports from Gaza City say Hamas and Fatah gunmen have been exchanging mortar fire and grenade attacks outside a security compound. | Reports from Gaza City say Hamas and Fatah gunmen have been exchanging mortar fire and grenade attacks outside a security compound. |
| 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 on Friday evening word came that Fatah and Hamas had agreed to order their supporters off the streets. | He says late on Friday 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 class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5385&edition=1">Send us your comments 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. | 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. | 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 | 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. | 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 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 when two Hamas members died in what the group said was a roadside bomb attack on a convoy by Fatah militants. | The violence began 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. |