Gaza outdoor prayer ban enforced

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Hamas security forces have broken up crowds of Fatah supporters, who were gathering in defiance of a ban on open-air Friday prayers across Gaza.

Medical sources say at least 11 people were taken to hospital for treatment following the clashes.

Hamas's political rivals, Fatah have used prayers to stage big opposition rallies for the past two weeks.

Last Friday saw the biggest protest against Hamas since the Islamist group seized control of Gaza in June.

This week's rallies were banned by the Islamist group.

A Hamas security officer, Youssef al-Zahar, said his colleagues had been deployed in several places across Gaza to enforce the ban.

"Our religion encourages people to pray, but we are trying to prevent people from using prayers to incite chaos and sabotage public property," he told reporters in Gaza City.

Witnesses report that Hamas police fired into the air and arrested several people among crowds in Rafah, in southern Gaza.

Protestors were also dispersed in the north of the strip, according to witnesses.

Fatah death

Earlier, Fatah accused Hamas militiamen of killing one of its members.

The body of Tarazan Doghmush was found dumped south of Gaza City on Friday, the morning after he had been kidnapped with his brother.

Tarazan Doghmush had been a member of a Fatah security force. Medical sources say his brother is in intensive care in hospital.

Ismail Shahwan, a spokesman for the Executive Force paramilitaries - who act as police in Hamas-controlled Gaza - denied any involvement in the killing.

On Thursday evening, hundreds of Hamas supporters staged their own rally in Gaza City.