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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Hamas closes government offices | Hamas closes government offices |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The Palestinian government says work will cease in all government offices a day after its headquarters in Ramallah were stormed by protesters. | The Palestinian government says work will cease in all government offices a day after its headquarters in Ramallah were stormed by protesters. |
| The Hamas-led administration said the suspension also followed "attempts to kidnap officials". | The Hamas-led administration said the suspension also followed "attempts to kidnap officials". |
| The statement does not say when work will be resumed or what steps may be taken to keep the government running. | The statement does not say when work will be resumed or what steps may be taken to keep the government running. |
| Deadly gun battles started in Gaza on Sunday after a pro-Hamas militias moved to quell protests about unpaid wages. | Deadly gun battles started in Gaza on Sunday after a pro-Hamas militias moved to quell protests about unpaid wages. |
| The government has announced the suspension of work in government institutions because of the attacks against the seat of government... and attempts to kidnap officials Ghazi HamadHamas government spokesman Who are Hamas? Unity government troubles | The government has announced the suspension of work in government institutions because of the attacks against the seat of government... and attempts to kidnap officials Ghazi HamadHamas government spokesman Who are Hamas? Unity government troubles |
| Correspondents say the move to close government offices comes amid the most serious round of internecine feuding since Hamas took power in March. | Correspondents say the move to close government offices comes amid the most serious round of internecine feuding since Hamas took power in March. |
| Rival gunmen from Hamas and the Fatah movement clashed again on Monday, but there are no reports of injuries. | Rival gunmen from Hamas and the Fatah movement clashed again on Monday, but there are no reports of injuries. |
| Prime Minister Ismail Haniya of Hamas has called for calm after Sunday's factional fighting, which left eight people dead and about 60 wounded. | Prime Minister Ismail Haniya of Hamas has called for calm after Sunday's factional fighting, which left eight people dead and about 60 wounded. |
| The Palestinian interior ministry said the Hamas militia had been ordered to withdraw and Gaza's streets were back under control of regular security forces. | The Palestinian interior ministry said the Hamas militia had been ordered to withdraw and Gaza's streets were back under control of regular security forces. |
| Hospital clash | Hospital clash |
| Civil servants, including security forces seen as loyal to the Fatah faction, have been protesting about not receiving full salaries from the Hamas-led government. | Civil servants, including security forces seen as loyal to the Fatah faction, have been protesting about not receiving full salaries from the Hamas-led government. |
| On Sunday, the Hamas militia in Gaza moved in to end the protests, sparking armed confrontations in Gaza and retaliation against the seat of government in Ramallah. | |
| Protesters loyal to Fatah stoned the home of Refugees Affairs Minister Atef Udwan in Beit Hanoun on Monday morning. | Protesters loyal to Fatah stoned the home of Refugees Affairs Minister Atef Udwan in Beit Hanoun on Monday morning. |
| Hamas guards fired into the air to clear the crowds, who were chanting anti-government slogans. | Hamas guards fired into the air to clear the crowds, who were chanting anti-government slogans. |
| In a separate incident, armed Fatah supporters clashed with Hamas guards at the main hospital in Gaza City, as they came to collect the body of one of those killed in Sunday's clashes. | In a separate incident, armed Fatah supporters clashed with Hamas guards at the main hospital in Gaza City, as they came to collect the body of one of those killed in Sunday's clashes. |
| Witnesses said the 20-minute gun battle did not result in further casualties, but patients and doctors were sent scrambling for cover. | Witnesses said the 20-minute gun battle did not result in further casualties, but patients and doctors were sent scrambling for cover. |
| Power struggle | Power struggle |
| The Hamas-led government says it cannot afford to pay the full salaries of civil servants because of financial sanctions imposed by Israel and Western countries, which regard Hamas as a terrorist organisation. | The Hamas-led government says it cannot afford to pay the full salaries of civil servants because of financial sanctions imposed by Israel and Western countries, which regard Hamas as a terrorist organisation. |
| At the same time, Mr Haniya has been locked in an increasingly bitter power struggle with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah. | At the same time, Mr Haniya has been locked in an increasingly bitter power struggle with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah. |
| The two have been trying unsuccessfully to form a unity government, eight months after Hamas crushed Fatah in parliamentary elections. | The two have been trying unsuccessfully to form a unity government, eight months after Hamas crushed Fatah in parliamentary elections. |
| Mr Abbas is being pressured by Washington not to join a Hamas-led government unless it meets international demands, including recognition of the legitimacy of Israel. | Mr Abbas is being pressured by Washington not to join a Hamas-led government unless it meets international demands, including recognition of the legitimacy of Israel. |
| This week Mr Abbas is scheduled to meet US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who is visiting the region in an effort to restart peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. | This week Mr Abbas is scheduled to meet US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who is visiting the region in an effort to restart peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians. |
| Also on Monday, a Palestinian fisherman from southern Gaza was killed by fire from an Israeli naval ship, after he strayed beyond the authorised area for fishing imposed by the Israelis in Gaza's territorial waters. | |
| The Israeli military, which continues to patrol Gaza's coastal waters since the withdrawal of troops and settlers last year, said it had fired warning shots at the boat. |