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Gaza tense after deadly battles Death toll mounts in Gaza battles
(about 12 hours later)
At least three people have been killed in Gaza in clashes between rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah. Deadly battles between rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah have continued in the Gaza Strip, leaving at least five more dead.
Although reported to be still tense, the funerals for those killed passed off peacefully on Saturday. Saturday's deaths raise the toll since Thursday night to at least 22.
Earlier, a civilian was among two shot dead in the city centre, bringing to 16 the number killed since Thursday night. However, despite tension, the funerals for those killed on the previous day passed off peacefully on Saturday.
Clashes erupted after weeks of relative calm and renewed efforts to form a national unity government. Both sides say they have suspended talks. Clashes erupted in Gaza after weeks of relative calm and renewed efforts to form a national unity government. Both sides say they have suspended talks.
The BBC's Alan Johnston in Gaza says sustained clashes went on almost all night but had stopped by dawn on Saturday. Those killed on Saturday included a boy of 11 or 12 who was hit during a shootout late at night between the two factions in the northern Gaza Strip.
The other two people killed on Saturday are thought to have been members of the security forces loyal to the Fatah movement led by the Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas. Earlier at least one person died in a gun battle near Gaza's Islamic University, while another died in a car explosion - rumoured to be caused when explosives being carried in the vehicle exploded.
Siege Kidnappings
Friday was one of the worst days of violence between Hamas and Fatah supporters since Hamas took control of the Palestinian administration a year ago. Shops were shut up and the streets of Gaza City were almost empty on Saturday as people hid inside from the gangs of gunmen stalking the streets.
How can the dialogue go on when there is a bomb underneath the table? Tawfiq Abu KhoussaFatah spokesman Members of Hamas and Fatah have fired mortars and grenades at each other and mounted tit-for-tat kidnappings.
Two civilians, one a two-year-old boy, were among those killed, according to Palestinian medical sources. They speak responsible words and yet the fighting continues. Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood
More than 40 people have died as a result of a power struggle between supporters of the Hamas-led government and Fatah since mid-December. Friday was one of the worst days of violence between Hamas and Fatah supporters since Hamas took control of the Palestinian administration a year ago, with at least 13 people reported killed.
Signs of spreading
Both sides blamed the other for the outbreak of violence, which followed a period of relative calm, in which both sides were thought to have been near joining a unity government.
"The unity government talks were on the verge of full agreement and the announcement of a unity government when putschists inside Fatah... rushed to blow up the situation to serve their own interests and a foreign agenda," said Hamas.
Funerals for those killed in the fighting were peaceful
Fatah spokesman Tawfiq Abu Khussa said: "It's clear that Hamas doesn't want the dialogue to succeed. The escalation began with Hamas."
Both sides said they were suspending talks.
The discord has been condemned by the Arab League, the Organisation of the Islamic Conference and Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood, which said: "They speak responsible words and yet the fighting continues."
There has been intensive mediation by Egyptian diplomats to try to stop the bloodshed.There has been intensive mediation by Egyptian diplomats to try to stop the bloodshed.
Late on Friday, word came that Fatah and Hamas had agreed to order their supporters off the streets - but both then accused the other of reneging on the deal and clashes continued. The UN's Middle East envoy Alvaro de Soto called on all the factions "to cease clashes and comply with international humanitarian law by refraining from acts which endanger civilians".
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 violence also showed signs of spreading to the West Bank, where Palestinian police clashed with about 200 Hamas supporters.
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.
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.
Blame exchanged
Fatah said it was calling off national unity talks in response to the violence.
The clashes came as Hamas marked a year since taking office
"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 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.