Saudi urges Palestinians to stop fighting

RIYADH, Dec 19 (Reuters) Regional powerhouse Saudi Arabia urged Palestinians today to overcome their differences to curb a slide into more violence.

''We follow with intense concern the dangerous escalation witnessed on the Palestinian stage,'' Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal told a news conference.

''We call on the brothers in Palestine to come together to ... to end the Israeli occupation, the suffering of the Palestinian people and achieve their legitimate ambition for an independent state ...

not slide into internal conflicts.'' Internal Palestinian fighting, the worst in a decade, has escalated since President Mahmoud Abbas called on Saturday for early elections to break the deadlock and Hamas accused him of a ''coup'' against its elected government.

Daily gunbattles between Hamas and Fatah forces have revived fears the Gaza Strip could slip into civil war.

Echoing fears of simultaneous civil wars in Iraq, Lebanon and the Palestinian territories voiced recently by Jordan's King Abdullah, Faisal urged the leaders of those countries to overcome their differences and embrace Arab League efforts to end the crises.

Arab League chief Amr Moussa is due to meet Lebanese leaders later today to try to mediate an end to a standoff that has seen Hezbollah and its allies hold round-the-clock protests for veto power.

REUTERS PDM PM1838