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| Hamas takes full control of Gaza | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| An uneasy calm has returned to the Gaza Strip where Hamas is in full control following a series of attacks on key strongholds of its rival, Fatah. | |
| Hamas militants seized the presidential compound in Gaza City overnight after a week of factional fighting, which has left more than 100 people dead. | |
| Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas sacked the Hamas-led government on Thursday and declared an emergency. | |
| Mr Abbas says there will be a caretaker administration and early elections. | Mr Abbas says there will be a caretaker administration and early elections. |
| But Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, of Hamas, says his government will press on and he will impose decisive law and order. | |
| Overnight the green flags of Hamas were flying over most parts of Gaza and Hamas supporters celebrated in the streets. | Overnight the green flags of Hamas were flying over most parts of Gaza and Hamas supporters celebrated in the streets. |
| The Gaza Strip is an indivisible part of the homeland and its residents are an integral part of the Palestinian people Ismail Haniya Q&A: Gaza chaos West Bank fears class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=6622&edition=1">Gaza: Have Your Say | |
| Earlier Hamas fighters had overrun remaining Fatah positions including the headquarters of Fatah's Preventative Security force and the presidential compound in Gaza City. | Earlier Hamas fighters had overrun remaining Fatah positions including the headquarters of Fatah's Preventative Security force and the presidential compound in Gaza City. |
| Fatah fighters were seen being led away, stripped to the waist, their fate unknown. | Fatah fighters were seen being led away, stripped to the waist, their fate unknown. |
| "All of the headquarters of the security services in the Gaza Strip are under control of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, including the presidency," Abu Obeida, a spokesman for Hamas's armed wing, told the AFP news agency. | "All of the headquarters of the security services in the Gaza Strip are under control of the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, including the presidency," Abu Obeida, a spokesman for Hamas's armed wing, told the AFP news agency. |
| The BBC's Matthew Price in Jerusalem says the West Bank and Gaza Strip will now effectively be split from one another - Gaza run by Hamas and the West Bank by Fatah. | The BBC's Matthew Price in Jerusalem says the West Bank and Gaza Strip will now effectively be split from one another - Gaza run by Hamas and the West Bank by Fatah. |
| We fully support [Mr Abbas] in his decisions to try to end this crisis for the Palestinian people Condoleezza Rice Rivals: Fatah and Hamas Voices: Life under Hamas | We fully support [Mr Abbas] in his decisions to try to end this crisis for the Palestinian people Condoleezza Rice Rivals: Fatah and Hamas Voices: Life under Hamas |
| But Mr Haniya rejected the notion of a separate Gaza state, saying: "The Gaza Strip is an indivisible part of the homeland and its residents are an integral part of the Palestinian people." | But Mr Haniya rejected the notion of a separate Gaza state, saying: "The Gaza Strip is an indivisible part of the homeland and its residents are an integral part of the Palestinian people." |
| But Mr Abbas said he would now rule by presidential decree until the conditions were right for elections. | But Mr Abbas said he would now rule by presidential decree until the conditions were right for elections. |
| Under the Palestinian Basic Law, essentially the Palestinian constitution, the president can rule by decree for 30 days. This can be extended with the approval of the parliament. | Under the Palestinian Basic Law, essentially the Palestinian constitution, the president can rule by decree for 30 days. This can be extended with the approval of the parliament. |
| Correspondents say this may be an irrelevance, as Mr Abbas appears to no longer have any influence in Gaza. | |
| There are new fears violence will spread to the West Bank, where Fatah is dominant. | There are new fears violence will spread to the West Bank, where Fatah is dominant. |
| The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, affiliated to Fatah, has called for "martial law" and the complete deployment of the Fatah movement. | The al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, affiliated to Fatah, has called for "martial law" and the complete deployment of the Fatah movement. |
| It said its members "should consider the Hamas organisation in all areas of the West Bank as outlaws and stop any armed movement by them whatever it costs". | It said its members "should consider the Hamas organisation in all areas of the West Bank as outlaws and stop any armed movement by them whatever it costs". |
| Aid suspended | Aid suspended |
| US President George W Bush said he was "profoundly concerned" over the deepening crisis and called for a halt to the violence. | US President George W Bush said he was "profoundly concerned" over the deepening crisis and called for a halt to the violence. |
| Sacked PM Ismail Haniya said Mr Abbas's decision was hasty | Sacked PM Ismail Haniya said Mr Abbas's decision was hasty |
| His Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice gave her backing to Mr Abbas, saying he had exercised his "lawful authority". | His Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice gave her backing to Mr Abbas, saying he had exercised his "lawful authority". |
| "We fully support him in his decisions to try to end this crisis for the Palestinian people and to give them an opportunity to return to peace and a better future," she said. | "We fully support him in his decisions to try to end this crisis for the Palestinian people and to give them an opportunity to return to peace and a better future," she said. |
| UK Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett also expressed regret over the dissolution of the government. | UK Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett also expressed regret over the dissolution of the government. |
| "Once again extremists carrying guns have prevented progress against the wishes of the majority who seek a peaceful two-state solution," she said. | "Once again extremists carrying guns have prevented progress against the wishes of the majority who seek a peaceful two-state solution," she said. |
| The crisis has also prompted the European Commission to suspend humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. | The crisis has also prompted the European Commission to suspend humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. |
| Hamas won a surprise victory in Palestinian elections in early 2006 but has since been engaged in an intermittently violent power struggle with Fatah. | Hamas won a surprise victory in Palestinian elections in early 2006 but has since been engaged in an intermittently violent power struggle with Fatah. |
| Hamas, an Islamic organisation, rose to prominence in Gaza during two Palestinian uprisings and refuses to recognise or negotiate with Israel. | Hamas, an Islamic organisation, rose to prominence in Gaza during two Palestinian uprisings and refuses to recognise or negotiate with Israel. |
| Fatah, a secular political grouping headed by Mr Abbas, ran the Palestinian Authority until 2006 and officially recognises the Jewish state. | Fatah, a secular political grouping headed by Mr Abbas, ran the Palestinian Authority until 2006 and officially recognises the Jewish state. |