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Five die in Gaza faction violence | Five die in Gaza faction violence |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Five people died overnight in the Gaza Strip in continuing clashes between militiamen linked to rival factions. | Five people died overnight in the Gaza Strip in continuing clashes between militiamen linked to rival factions. |
In Gaza City, Hamas gunmen attacked the headquarters of security forces closely associated with political rival Fatah. | In Gaza City, Hamas gunmen attacked the headquarters of security forces closely associated with political rival Fatah. |
Fighting between the governing Hamas faction and Fatah has left close to 30 people dead since Thursday. | |
It is the worst violence since Hamas came to power a year ago and has halted attempts to hold talks on forming a Palestinian national unity government. | It is the worst violence since Hamas came to power a year ago and has halted attempts to hold talks on forming a Palestinian national unity government. |
The violence escalated after a Hamas member was shot dead outside a mosque in Khan Younis, sparking clashes in the southern town for many hours between Hamas and Fatah supporters. | |
'Close to civil war' | |
Gun battles continued there and in the north of the Gaza Strip until daybreak. | |
In Gaza City, parts of the town were plunged into darkness as an electrical transformer was knocked out during the fighting overnight. | |
Several local commanders were reported to have been kidnapped and both factions have set up roadblocks around the offices and homes of their leaders. | |
Palestinian Information Minister Youssef Rizka, of Hamas, warned that the two sides were close to civil war. | Palestinian Information Minister Youssef Rizka, of Hamas, warned that the two sides were close to civil war. |
Hamas and Palestinian President and Fatah leader, Mahmoud Abbas, have agreed to mediated talks proposed by Saudi Arabia on Sunday but no date has yet been set. | Hamas and Palestinian President and Fatah leader, Mahmoud Abbas, have agreed to mediated talks proposed by Saudi Arabia on Sunday but no date has yet been set. |
The clashes of the last few days erupted after weeks of relative calm. | The clashes of the last few days erupted after weeks of relative calm. |
The two factions had been making renewed efforts to form the national unity government which would satisfy the demands of international donors. | The two factions had been making renewed efforts to form the national unity government which would satisfy the demands of international donors. |
The US and the European Union froze funding when Hamas, the largest Palestinian militant Islamist organisation took office last March, demanding that Hamas renounce violence and recognise Israel. | The US and the European Union froze funding when Hamas, the largest Palestinian militant Islamist organisation took office last March, demanding that Hamas renounce violence and recognise Israel. |
Both sides have blamed the other for the outbreak of violence and say they have suspended their talks. | Both sides have blamed the other for the outbreak of violence and say they have suspended their talks. |
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