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| Gaza faction boosts police ranks | Gaza faction boosts police ranks |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| About 500 Fatah loyalists have returned to Gaza from police training in Egypt as factional fighting escalates with Fatah's main Palestinian rival, Hamas. | About 500 Fatah loyalists have returned to Gaza from police training in Egypt as factional fighting escalates with Fatah's main Palestinian rival, Hamas. |
| Ten people have died in the latest violence, including eight in an attack on a Fatah security base - the worst incident in three days of bloodshed. | Ten people have died in the latest violence, including eight in an attack on a Fatah security base - the worst incident in three days of bloodshed. |
| A Fatah official denied the returning force would fight Hamas, saying it would give Palestinians security. | A Fatah official denied the returning force would fight Hamas, saying it would give Palestinians security. |
| Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has urged an end to the fighting. | Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has urged an end to the fighting. |
| But BBC Jerusalem correspondent Katya Adler says the latest events in Gaza appear to be a significant escalation in the factional fighting, pushing the region closer to all-out civil conflict. | But BBC Jerusalem correspondent Katya Adler says the latest events in Gaza appear to be a significant escalation in the factional fighting, pushing the region closer to all-out civil conflict. |
| Ambush | Ambush |
| The Fatah official, Tawfiq Abu Khoussa, said of the returning men: "The role of the security forces is to protect the security of the Palestinian people and not to take part in internal fighting." | The Fatah official, Tawfiq Abu Khoussa, said of the returning men: "The role of the security forces is to protect the security of the Palestinian people and not to take part in internal fighting." |
| Press split on crisis Gaza city viewpoint | Press split on crisis Gaza city viewpoint |
| The force is reported to be under the command of Muhammad Dahlan, national security adviser to Mr Abbas, who also leads Fatah. | The force is reported to be under the command of Muhammad Dahlan, national security adviser to Mr Abbas, who also leads Fatah. |
| At least 17 people have died in Gaza since Sunday in the worst outbreak of factional violence in several months. | At least 17 people have died in Gaza since Sunday in the worst outbreak of factional violence in several months. |
| Tuesday's attack on the Fatah base took place near the key Karni crossing point, and drew fire from Israeli troops guarding the border. | Tuesday's attack on the Fatah base took place near the key Karni crossing point, and drew fire from Israeli troops guarding the border. |
| Reports say the fighting erupted when suspected Hamas gunmen approached a training base used by the pro-Fatah Presidential Guard which is responsible for security on the Palestinian side of the Karni crossing. | Reports say the fighting erupted when suspected Hamas gunmen approached a training base used by the pro-Fatah Presidential Guard which is responsible for security on the Palestinian side of the Karni crossing. |
| A Presidential Guard spokesman told Associated Press the Karni base was attacked with rockets, rocket-propelled grenades and mortars. HAVE YOUR SAY You can't expect any kind of resolution to the conflict in Gaza for as long as Hamas is in power Brad, Japan class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=6316&edition=1">Send us your comments | |
| After the ambush, bodies were seen strewn in the grass near an overturned security vehicle. | After the ambush, bodies were seen strewn in the grass near an overturned security vehicle. |
| A spokesman for the Hamas paramilitary Executive Force denied its members were involved in the clash. | A spokesman for the Hamas paramilitary Executive Force denied its members were involved in the clash. |
| The head of the Palestinian Energy Authority said electricity in Gaza could be shut down by Wednesday because the fighting near Karni had stopped fuel trucks arriving. | The head of the Palestinian Energy Authority said electricity in Gaza could be shut down by Wednesday because the fighting near Karni had stopped fuel trucks arriving. |
| Also on Tuesday, Hamas accused Fatah of killing one of its commanders, and Fatah said Hamas killed a pro-Fatah security officer and wounded three others near Gaza City. | Also on Tuesday, Hamas accused Fatah of killing one of its commanders, and Fatah said Hamas killed a pro-Fatah security officer and wounded three others near Gaza City. |
| Civil strife | Civil strife |
| The fighting, and Monday's resignation of Interior Minister Hani Qawasmi, have dealt a major blow to the two-month-old national unity government set up by Islamist Hamas and its secular rival Fatah. | The fighting, and Monday's resignation of Interior Minister Hani Qawasmi, have dealt a major blow to the two-month-old national unity government set up by Islamist Hamas and its secular rival Fatah. |
| An Israeli tank observes the attack on the base near Karni | An Israeli tank observes the attack on the base near Karni |
| In a speech marking Nakba (Catastrophe) Day, the anniversary of the establishment of Israel in 1948, Mr Abbas called for an immediate implementation of a security plan to halt the internal fighting. | In a speech marking Nakba (Catastrophe) Day, the anniversary of the establishment of Israel in 1948, Mr Abbas called for an immediate implementation of a security plan to halt the internal fighting. |
| In a separate speech, Prime Minister Ismail Haniya of Hamas urged people to work together to protect the national unity government. | In a separate speech, Prime Minister Ismail Haniya of Hamas urged people to work together to protect the national unity government. |
| UK Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said she was "deeply concerned" by the rising violence. | UK Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett said she was "deeply concerned" by the rising violence. |
| She said: "This fighting is senseless: it endangers civilians, makes it harder for the international community to help the people of Gaza and undermines the peace process." | She said: "This fighting is senseless: it endangers civilians, makes it harder for the international community to help the people of Gaza and undermines the peace process." |
| Up to 170 people have died in clashes between Fatah and Hamas since the latter won parliamentary elections in January 2006. | Up to 170 people have died in clashes between Fatah and Hamas since the latter won parliamentary elections in January 2006. |
| Israel withdrew its settlers and troops from Gaza in 2005, but kept control of its borders, airspace and territorial water. | Israel withdrew its settlers and troops from Gaza in 2005, but kept control of its borders, airspace and territorial water. |