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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Beckett 'alarm' at Gaza violence | Beckett 'alarm' at Gaza violence |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has said violence in the Gaza Strip is "deeply alarming", and has joined calls for a ceasefire. | British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has said violence in the Gaza Strip is "deeply alarming", and has joined calls for a ceasefire. |
| She spoke to the Palestinian Authority president on Thursday, before Mahmoud Abbas sacked the Hamas-led government and declared a state of emergency. | |
| Mrs Beckett said that was a "matter for regret" and dialogue was the only way to achieve lasting peace. | Mrs Beckett said that was a "matter for regret" and dialogue was the only way to achieve lasting peace. |
| Hamas has seized control in Gaza after attacks on its rival, Fatah. | Hamas has seized control in Gaza after attacks on its rival, Fatah. |
| A week of factional fighting between the two has left more than 100 people dead. | A week of factional fighting between the two has left more than 100 people dead. |
| Border security | Border security |
| On Thursday Hamas fighters seized remaining Fatah positions, including the headquarters of Fatah's Preventative Security force and the presidential compound in Gaza City. | On Thursday Hamas fighters seized remaining Fatah positions, including the headquarters of Fatah's Preventative Security force and the presidential compound in Gaza City. |
| There are fears the fighting could spread across the Palestinian territories and beyond. | There are fears the fighting could spread across the Palestinian territories and beyond. |
| Once again, extremists carrying guns have prevented progress against the wishes of the majority who seek a peaceful two-state solution Margaret Beckett Q&A: Chaos in Gaza Hamas takes full control | Once again, extremists carrying guns have prevented progress against the wishes of the majority who seek a peaceful two-state solution Margaret Beckett Q&A: Chaos in Gaza Hamas takes full control |
| Amr Moussa, the head of the Arab League, called for a ceasefire and Egypt has sent police to boost security on the border with Gaza. | Amr Moussa, the head of the Arab League, called for a ceasefire and Egypt has sent police to boost security on the border with Gaza. |
| Mrs Beckett said: "Once again, extremists carrying guns have prevented progress against the wishes of the majority who seek a peaceful two-state solution. | Mrs Beckett said: "Once again, extremists carrying guns have prevented progress against the wishes of the majority who seek a peaceful two-state solution. |
| "The current violence in Gaza and the West Bank remains deeply alarming and I again call on all parties to agree an immediate ceasefire, for the sake of the Palestinian people." | "The current violence in Gaza and the West Bank remains deeply alarming and I again call on all parties to agree an immediate ceasefire, for the sake of the Palestinian people." |
| She added: "It is imperative that all sides agree to speak to each other. Dialogue is the only way to achieve a long-lasting and sustainable peace." | She added: "It is imperative that all sides agree to speak to each other. Dialogue is the only way to achieve a long-lasting and sustainable peace." |
| 'Ticking time bomb' | 'Ticking time bomb' |
| Hamas, a radical Islamist group, won a surprise victory in Palestinian elections in early 2006 but has since been engaged in a violent power struggle with secular nationalists Fatah. | Hamas, a radical Islamist group, won a surprise victory in Palestinian elections in early 2006 but has since been engaged in a violent power struggle with secular nationalists Fatah. |
| It brought Fatah into the coalition in March to end an earlier bout of violence, but there have been rows over the control of the powerful security forces. | It brought Fatah into the coalition in March to end an earlier bout of violence, but there have been rows over the control of the powerful security forces. |
| Hamas has taken control of the Gaza Strip | Hamas has taken control of the Gaza Strip |
| President Abbas sacked the Hamas-led coalition government, which will leave him ruling by presidential decree, on Thursday. | President Abbas sacked the Hamas-led coalition government, which will leave him ruling by presidential decree, on Thursday. |
| Jan Egeland, special adviser to the United Nations Secretary General on conflict resolution, said all sides had not heeded the warnings of the impending violence. | Jan Egeland, special adviser to the United Nations Secretary General on conflict resolution, said all sides had not heeded the warnings of the impending violence. |
| He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Last year I met the Security Council and said: 'Gaza is a ticking time bomb which may go off in five or in 10 months'. | He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Last year I met the Security Council and said: 'Gaza is a ticking time bomb which may go off in five or in 10 months'. |
| "It took about 10 months and then it went off. This is the product of failed Palestinian policies, failed Israeli policies, failed international policies." | "It took about 10 months and then it went off. This is the product of failed Palestinian policies, failed Israeli policies, failed international policies." |
| Civil war | Civil war |
| Respect MP George Galloway claimed Hamas had acted to prevent a planned coup. | Respect MP George Galloway claimed Hamas had acted to prevent a planned coup. |
| "The United States has been packing money into President Abbas's presidential security detail, Israel has been helping supply them with weapons," he said. | "The United States has been packing money into President Abbas's presidential security detail, Israel has been helping supply them with weapons," he said. |
| He called on Israel to release jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, in order to prevent an "explosive" civil war. | He called on Israel to release jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouti, in order to prevent an "explosive" civil war. |
| "He is the only Palestinian figure on the Fatah side who has credibility in the nation," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. | "He is the only Palestinian figure on the Fatah side who has credibility in the nation," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. |
| "If Israel will release him, if the West will push them to do so, then we could see a negotiated way out of this." | "If Israel will release him, if the West will push them to do so, then we could see a negotiated way out of this." |