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Factions clash despite Gaza truce Palestinian PM appeals for calm
(about 5 hours later)
Sporadic gun battles are continuing in Gaza between the rival Hamas and Fatah factions, despite a renewed truce. Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya has appealed for calm after fresh fighting between Hamas and Fatah in Gaza, despite a renewed truce.
At least eight people have been wounded in fresh clashes, although calm has returned to some areas. Mr Haniya, of Hamas, called for an immediate ceasefire and for gunmen to withdraw from the streets.
Twenty-two people were killed and at least 200 wounded in the 24 hours before the truce was revived on Friday. At least eight people were wounded in the latest clashes, although some calm has been restored.
In Washington, the Quartet of Middle East mediators - the EU, the UN, the US and Russia - voiced "deep concern" about the levels of violence. Two truces since Tuesday have failed to take hold, as the two sides remain locked in a violent power struggle.
The Quartet also supported a US push to revive the stalled peace process between the Palestinians and Israel. Some 22 people have died since a resurgence of violence on Thursday.
Makeshift barricades
Representatives from Hamas and Fatah met on Saturday to try to agree on how to enforce a ceasefire.
Fatah spokesman Abdel-Hakim Awad said the talks would "lay the mechanism to remove the gunmen and checkpoints from the streets and allow Palestinian police forces to carry out their job," Reuters news agency reported.
Gaza viewpoint Factions locked in struggle Speaking from his home in Gaza's al-Shati refugee camp, Prime Minister Haniya called for an end to the violence.
"I renew my call to all our people for an immediate ceasefire and for the gunmen to withdraw from the streets and for the security services to return to their bases," he told journalists, AFP news agency reported.
The calls for calm followed hours of violence which shattered a truce declared on Friday.
The BBC's Alan Johnson in Gaza says the people of Gaza City woke again to the sound of gunfire on Saturday, and for a short period there were intense clashes in the centre of town.
They died away as the morning wore on, he says, but then by mid-afternoon there were more exchanges for a time, our correspondent says.
He says those Palestinians who venture out find makeshift barricades on many roads around the main bases of the forces allied to the Fatah Party.
These checkpoints are manned by armed men wearing black ski masks who seem suspicious of almost every car, our correspondent adds.
Tense timeTense time
The BBC's Gaza correspondent, Alan Johnston, says Gaza City remains very tense.
There have been some fierce exchanges of machine gun and heavier fire in the central area around the Islamic University, a Hamas stronghold.There have been some fierce exchanges of machine gun and heavier fire in the central area around the Islamic University, a Hamas stronghold.
class="" href="/1/hi/talking_point/6323923.stm">Gaza viewpoint class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6324677.stm">Factions locked in struggle University workers ran for cover as Hamas and Fatah gunmen traded fire from the rooftops of nearby buildings, the Associated Press news agency reported. University workers ran for cover as Hamas and Fatah gunmen traded fire from the rooftops of nearby buildings, the Associated Press news agency reported.
However, neither side launched major assaults during the night and our correspondent says there remains a sense that the wider situation has improved. The situation in areas outside Gaza City is reported to be much calmer, with schools reopening in the south, our correspondent says.
The situation in areas outside Gaza City is reported to be much calmer, with schools reopening in the south.
The recent clashes between Hamas and Fatah were the most intense seen during months of factional unrest in Gaza.The recent clashes between Hamas and Fatah were the most intense seen during months of factional unrest in Gaza.
On Friday, leaders of both sides promised to withdraw their fighters and remove their checkpoints, but this has not yet happened and there remains a danger of further fighting, our correspondent adds.
Hamas and Fatah leaders are due to meet later on Saturday to try and shore up the truce.
And reports say Palestinian Authority President and Fatah chief Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas political chief Khaled Meshaal will meet in Saudi Arabia next Tuesday to try to end the fighting.And reports say Palestinian Authority President and Fatah chief Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas political chief Khaled Meshaal will meet in Saudi Arabia next Tuesday to try to end the fighting.
Hamas and Fatah have been trying to form a unity government for months.Hamas and Fatah have been trying to form a unity government for months.
They are deadlocked over Hamas' rejection of international calls for it to recognise Israel.They are deadlocked over Hamas' rejection of international calls for it to recognise Israel.
Western donors have been withholding direct aid, resulting in a deep economic crisis in the Palestinian territories.Western donors have been withholding direct aid, resulting in a deep economic crisis in the Palestinian territories.
Quartet talks
In Washington, the Quartet of Middle East mediators "called for Palestinian unity in support of a government committed to non-violence, the recognition of Israel and acceptance of previous agreements," UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said on behalf of the group.
The Quartet re-affirmed that a year-long aid embargo against the Hamas government would remain in place until it agrees to recognise the Jewish state and renounce violence.
But Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described the boycott as "counterproductive".
He also advocated bringing Syria into the Middle East peace dialogue - a suggestion ruled out by US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
The Quartet also backed US efforts to jump-start the so-called "roadmap" for a peaceful settlement between the Palestinians and Israel.
Three-way talks between Ms Rice, Mr Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert are expected to be held later this month.