Nine hurt in new Palestinian gunbattle

Gaza, May 9 : Nine people were wounded in a gunbattle between Fatah and Hamas fighters in Gaza today, a day after three gunmen were killed in clashes, witnesses said.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, backed by Fatah, and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, head of a Hamas-dominated government, failed to resolve security issues in weekend talks.

Abbas and Haniyeh, whose militant Islamist group won parliamentary elections in January, are embroiled in a power struggle over control of security forces that has intensified Palestinian fears of a civil war.

The witnesses said today's clash occurred when hundreds of gunmen roamed the streets of Gaza City's Tuffah neighbourhood.

Four of the nine people wounded were Palestinian teenagers on their way to school, said medical staff. Three gunmen were also among the wounded.

Yesterday's fighting occurred in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis over allegations Hamas gunmen had kidnapped at least one Fatah security official.

Fatah activists have bristled over the rise to power of Hamas over their faction, which long dominated Palestinian politics.

Rivalries between Fatah and Hamas deepened after Abbas appointed a Fatah loyalist to a senior post in the Interior Ministry, which supervises the security forces, so he could exert more influence over the Hamas-run ministry.

Adding to the tension is a financial crisis caused by the freezing of aid to the Palestinian Authority by major donor countries until Hamas renounces violence, recognises the Jewish state's right to exist and embraces existing peace deals.

Hamas says talks with Israel would be a waste of time.

Reuters