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| Gaza ceasefire comes into force | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A ceasefire has begun in Gaza after several days of fierce fighting between the two main Palestinian factions - Hamas and Fatah. | |
| The truce came into effect at 0300 local time (0100 GMT), after being announced by Mahmoud Zahar, foreign minister in the Hamas government. | |
| Fighting between the two rival groups has left more than 30 people dead in recent days. | |
| It is the worst violence since Hamas came to power in 2006. | It is the worst violence since Hamas came to power in 2006. |
| Attempts to form a unity government have so far failed. | Attempts to form a unity government have so far failed. |
| Mr Zahar made the announcement flanked by Fatah representatives after talks between Prime Minister Ismail Haniya of Hamas and a senior aide to President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah in the Gaza Strip. | |
| He said the two sides had agreed to take all gunmen off the streets of Gaza and remove checkpoints that had sprung up in many places. | He said the two sides had agreed to take all gunmen off the streets of Gaza and remove checkpoints that had sprung up in many places. |
| Both sides have agreed that militants should release hostages taken recently, Mr Zahar said. | Both sides have agreed that militants should release hostages taken recently, Mr Zahar said. |
| Saudi invitation | Saudi invitation |
| Egyptian diplomats brokered the deal after days of mediation. | Egyptian diplomats brokered the deal after days of mediation. |
| All clashes must stop and armed men must withdraw immediately from the streets Mahmoud ZaharForeign minister Life under Hamas a rough ride | All clashes must stop and armed men must withdraw immediately from the streets Mahmoud ZaharForeign minister Life under Hamas a rough ride |
| The clashes erupted after weeks of relative calm. | The clashes erupted after weeks of relative calm. |
| A similar deal was reached a few days ago, but the BBC's Alan Johnston in Gaza says that Monday's truce has a better chance of sticking as fighting has been less intense in the last 48 hours. | A similar deal was reached a few days ago, but the BBC's Alan Johnston in Gaza says that Monday's truce has a better chance of sticking as fighting has been less intense in the last 48 hours. |
| The two factions had been making renewed efforts to form a national unity government to satisfy the demands of international donors. | The two factions had been making renewed efforts to form a national unity government to satisfy the demands of international donors. |
| Both sides have blamed the other for the outbreak of violence. | Both sides have blamed the other for the outbreak of violence. |
| On Sunday, Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah invited leaders from the rival factions to meet in Mecca to seek a solution to the wave of fighting. | On Sunday, Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah invited leaders from the rival factions to meet in Mecca to seek a solution to the wave of fighting. |
| In an open letter, the king described the violence as a "disgrace" and urged leaders to make "dialogue prevail over the language of arms". | In an open letter, the king described the violence as a "disgrace" and urged leaders to make "dialogue prevail over the language of arms". |
| Hamas and Fatah have accepted the invitation but no date has been set for the meeting. | Hamas and Fatah have accepted the invitation but no date has been set for the meeting. |