Rival Palestinian forces clash, 7 dead

GAZA, Oct 1 (Reuters) Rival Palestinian security forces clashed across the Gaza Strip today, killing seven and injuring 50 others, in the biggest outbreak of internal fighting in months over unpaid wages and stalled unity government talks.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, leader of the Islamic militant group Hamas, called on Palestinians ''to be responsible and abandon their differences.'' The clashes stoked fears of civil war as the rival forces, loyal to either Hamas or President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah, exchanged fire from rooftops near parliament building in Gaza City. Smoke from burning tyres wafted overhead as pedestrians ran for cover.

Violence also erupted in the West Bank city of Ramallah where Abbas supporters started a small fire inside the offices of the Hamas-led government.

The government has been largely unable to pay its employees since Western powers halted direct aid to it soon after Hamas, which is sworn to destroying Israel, won a parliamentary election in January.

''We (Abbas and I) have agreed all parties must abide by the law ... and that they should not get involved in any kind of behaviour that may lead to the spread of chaos,'' Haniyeh told reporters in Gaza.

He also said he and Abbas discussed renewing talks on forming a unity coalition. There was no immediate comment from the president's office.

Three Palestinian civilians, including a boy, as well as a Hamas militant and another Palestinian security officer were killed in the clashes. A member of Abbas's presidential guard was shot dead in a firefight near Abbas's Gaza home.

Gunmen killed a security officer and wounded another in a drive-by shooting on their car, witnesses and medics said.

Palestinian gunmen later set ablaze the building of the Ministry of Civil Affairs in Gaza. There were no reports of casualties.

Most of those wounded in Gaza City and the town of Khan Younis were civilians, including schoolchildren, medics said.

Fatah and Hamas traded blame for the violence, which came as about 50 Israeli tanks pushed into northern Gaza, Palestinian security sources said. The army said the incursion was aimed at preventing militants from firing rockets into Israel.

POWER STRUGGLE Abbas has been locked in an increasingly bitter power struggle with Haniyeh's government over stalled efforts to form a unity coalition after Hamas won the election.

Palestinian tensions rose after Interior Minister Saeed Seyam of Hamas ordered his security forces to take to the streets to prevent further violence by striking policemen demanding overdue salaries.

Palestinians hoped a unity government would ease Western sanctions. But the talks broke down after Abbas accused Hamas of reneging on a commitment to accept past peace deals with Israel.

Protesting police, loyal to Abbas, blocked Gaza roads with burning tyres and paramilitary troops clashed with the Hamas-led force in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

Earlier in Gaza City, Hamas security men stormed the house of a senior member of the Preventive Security force loyal to Abbas. Five bodyguards were seized from the house, Hamas said.

''Hamas and Fatah are responsible for the current bloodshed.

Haniyeh and Abbas are to blame for their failure to resolve their political differences,'' said Abu Saleh, 38, in Gaza.

In Ramallah, protesters rampaged through the prime minister's office building, breaking windows and smashing equipment.

Firefighters extinguished the flames.

Reuters SY DB2257