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Gaza factions renew their truce Gaza factions renew their truce
(about 6 hours later)
The governing Palestinian movement, Hamas, and its rival Fatah have agreed to renew their ceasefire, barely a day after it crumbled. The ruling Palestinian movement, Hamas, and its rival Fatah have agreed to renew a truce, a day after it crumbled.
The deal came after fighting in the Gaza Strip left 20 people dead and at least 100 wounded in the past 24 hours.The deal came after fighting in the Gaza Strip left 20 people dead and at least 100 wounded in the past 24 hours.
The battles are among the bloodiest since Hamas won elections a year ago. In Washington, the Quartet of Middle East mediators - the EU, the UN, the US and Russia - voiced its "deep concern" about the levels of violence.
Meeting in Washington, the Quartet of Middle East mediators - the EU, the UN, the US and Russia - has voiced "deep concern" about the levels of violence. The Quartet also supported a US push to revive the stalled peace process between the Palestinians and Israel.
Flare-up In Gaza, the BBC's Alan Johnston says Hamas and Fatah leaders promised to withdraw their fighters and remove their checkpoints.
"The Quartet called for Palestinian unity in support of a government committed to non-violence, the recognition of Israel and acceptance of previous agreements," UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said on behalf of the group.
In Gaza, the BBC's Alan Johnston says faction leaders have promised to withdraw their fighters and remove their checkpoints.
But even while the factions were spelling out the new deal, clashes continued and the Fatah delegation to the talks came under fire as it left the meeting, with two bodyguards injured, he says.
The violence on the streets of Gaza has reached a new level, he says.
The two sides are now planning and carrying out much more comprehensive attacks on each other and doing so with a ferocity that makes all the streets dangerous, he says.
I call upon everyone, regardless of their affiliation, to stop this bloodletting Mahmoud AbbasPalestinian Authority President Gaza viewpoint Factions locked in struggleI call upon everyone, regardless of their affiliation, to stop this bloodletting Mahmoud AbbasPalestinian Authority President Gaza viewpoint Factions locked in struggle
But even while the factions were spelling out the new deal, clashes continued and the Fatah delegation to the talks came under fire as it left the meeting, with two bodyguards injured, he says.
The recent battles were among the bloodiest since Hamas won elections a year ago.
Reports say Palestinian Authority President and Fatah chief Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas political chief Khaled Meshaal will meet in Saudi Arabia next Tuesday to try to end the fighting.Reports say Palestinian Authority President and Fatah chief Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas political chief Khaled Meshaal will meet in Saudi Arabia next Tuesday to try to end the fighting.
Hamas and Fatah have been trying to form a unity government for months.Hamas and Fatah have been trying to form a unity government for months.
They are deadlocked over Hamas' rejection of international calls that it recognises Israel.They are deadlocked over Hamas' rejection of international calls that it recognises Israel.
Western donors have been withholding aid, resulting in a deep economic crisis in the Palestinian territories.Western donors have been withholding aid, resulting in a deep economic crisis in the Palestinian territories.
Buildings targeted
The 14 people who died included a woman and two children, plus at least two gunmen from either side and a senior member of Mr Abbas' intelligence service.
The first truce, declared on Tuesday, was shattered when Hamas militants ambushed a convoy carrying equipment to the Fatah-allied security forces on Thursday.
The Islamic University was overrun by Fatah supporters and set ablaze
Six people died in the ensuing gun battle, triggering clashes across the Gaza Strip.
Speaking in the West Bank city of Ramallah, the Palestinian leader appealed for calm.
"I call upon everyone, regardless of their affiliation, to stop this bloodletting," Mr Abbas said.
Earlier Hamas fighters attacked several bases used by Fatah or official state security services.
Meanwhile dozens of Fatah fighters laid siege to the interior ministry, run by Hamas.
Our correspondent said bursts of fire could be heard every few minutes.
Sometimes there were much louder blasts, he said, and ambulance sirens wailed through the streets.
Overnight members of the presidential guard stormed the Islamic University - long regarded as a Hamas bastion - parts of which were later set on fire.
A Fatah official said seven Iranians were arrested at the university and an eighth blew himself up during the operation. Hamas denied that any non-Palestinians were inside the campus.
Quartet talksQuartet talks
In Washington, after meeting foreign ministers from the EU and Russia as well as representatives from the UN US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said tough topics had to be addressed to move the process forward. In Washington, the Quartet of Middle East mediators "called for Palestinian unity in support of a government committed to non-violence, the recognition of Israel and acceptance of previous agreements," UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said on behalf of the group.
The Quartet re-affirmed that a year-long aid embargo against the Hamas government would remain in place until it agrees to recognise the Jewish state and renounces violence.
But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed Moscow's strong scepticism over the boycott, describing it as "counterproductive".
He also spoke in favour of bringing Syria into the Middle East peace dialogue - a suggestion that was ruled out by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
The Quartet also backed US efforts to jump-start the so-called "roadmap" for a peaceful settlement between the Palestinians and Israel.
Ms Rice said tough topics had to be addressed to move the process forward.
"There's simply no reason to avoid the subject of how we get to a Palestinian state," Ms Rice said."There's simply no reason to avoid the subject of how we get to a Palestinian state," Ms Rice said.
The Quartet has cut off funding to the Hamas government because of its refusal to recognise Israel and renounce violence. Three-way talks between Ms Rice, Mr Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert are expected to be held later this month.
Washington insists there is still a united position of isolating Hamas, the BBC's Jonathan Beale says from the US capital.
But Russia has called for the embargo to be lifted, and the UN has questioned whether the current policy can be sustained, he adds.