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| Factions clash despite Gaza truce | Factions clash despite Gaza truce |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Sporadic gun battles are continuing in Gaza between the rival Hamas and Fatah factions, despite a renewed truce. | Sporadic gun battles are continuing in Gaza between the rival Hamas and Fatah factions, despite a renewed truce. |
| Clashes have broken out in two areas of Gaza City although reports say the fighting has been intermittent. | Clashes have broken out in two areas of Gaza City although reports say the fighting has been intermittent. |
| Twenty-two people were killed and at least 200 wounded in the 24 hours before the truce was revived on Friday. | |
| In Washington, the Quartet of Middle East mediators - the EU, the UN, the US and Russia - voiced "deep concern" about the levels of violence. | In Washington, the Quartet of Middle East mediators - the EU, the UN, the US and Russia - 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. | The Quartet also supported a US push to revive the stalled peace process between the Palestinians and Israel. |
| Tense time | Tense time |
| The BBC's Gaza correspondent, Alan Johnston, says residents of Gaza City woke up on Saturday to the sound of more gunfire. | The BBC's Gaza correspondent, Alan Johnston, says residents of Gaza City woke up on Saturday to the sound of more gunfire. |
| However, neither party launched major assaults during the night, he adds, and there remains a sense that the wider situation has improved. | However, neither party launched major assaults during the night, he adds, and there remains a sense that the wider situation has improved. |
| Gaza viewpoint Factions locked in struggle The recent clashes between Hamas and Fatah were the most intense seen during months of factional unrest in Gaza. | Gaza viewpoint Factions locked in struggle The recent clashes between Hamas and Fatah were the most intense seen during months of factional unrest in Gaza. |
| On Friday leaders of both sides promised to withdraw their fighters and remove their checkpoints, but this has not yet happened and there remains a danger of further fighting, our correspondent says. | On Friday leaders of both sides promised to withdraw their fighters and remove their checkpoints, but this has not yet happened and there remains a danger of further fighting, our correspondent says. |
| Hamas and Fatah leaders are due to meet later on Saturday to try and shore up the truce. | Hamas and Fatah leaders are due to meet later on Saturday to try and shore up the truce. |
| And 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. | And 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 for it to recognise Israel. | They are deadlocked over Hamas' rejection of international calls for it to recognise Israel. |
| Western donors have been withholding direct aid, resulting in a deep economic crisis in the Palestinian territories. | Western donors have been withholding direct aid, resulting in a deep economic crisis in the Palestinian territories. |
| Quartet talks | Quartet talks |
| 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. | 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 renounce violence. | 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 renounce violence. |
| But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described the boycott as "counterproductive". | But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described the boycott as "counterproductive". |
| He also advocated bringing Syria into the Middle East peace dialogue - a suggestion ruled out by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. | He also advocated bringing Syria into the Middle East peace dialogue - a suggestion 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. | The Quartet also backed US efforts to jump-start the so-called "roadmap" for a peaceful settlement between the Palestinians and Israel. |
| Three-way talks between Ms Rice, Mr Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert are expected to be held later this month. | Three-way talks between Ms Rice, Mr Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert are expected to be held later this month. |