Gunbattle in Gaza City near minister's home

Gaza, Dec 22: Unknown gunmen clashed with armed Hamas fighters near the Gaza City home of the Hamas-led government's Foreign Minister Mahmoud al-Zahar today, Palestinian witnesses said.

Local residents said they suspected the gunmen were from a local clan rather than Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction, meaning there was no breach of a Hamas-Fatah ceasefire that came into effect on Wednesday.

No casualties were reported and local clerics were trying to mediate an end to the standoff.

Tensions have been high in the Palestinian territories since Abbas, a moderate, called for early elections tomorrow. The Islamist Hamas group, which trounced the once-dominant Fatah in January polls, said it would boycott any early elections.

On Wednesday, Fatah and Hamas forces withdrew from the streets under the truce designed to halt a possible slide toward civil war. A previous truce fell apart within 24 hours.

The residents said the unknown gunmen opened fire at Zahar's home, sparking exchanges with the Hamas fighters. Zahar was believed to be away from his house at the time.

The clan may have been trying to settle scores with Hamas after two of its members were killed just after the ceasefire came into effect on Wednesday. The two were supporters of Fatah.

Zahar's home is not far from Abbas's Gaza residence.

The residents said Abbas's forces had beefed up security round the President's compound after the gunbattle broke out.

Hospital officials said a Palestinian bystander died from his wounds today after a clash between Hamas gunmen and a local armed clan following a dispute.

The residents said a Hamas fighter had been abducted but the incident did not appear to be Fatah-Hamas related.

Abbas called for early elections after the failure of attempts to forge a national unity government and break a political deadlock with Hamas.

Hamas, which advocates Israel's destruction, has struggled to govern since taking office in March under the weight of Western sanctions imposed because of its refusal to recognise the Jewish state and renounce violence.

The West has sought to bolster Abbas, who favours a two-state solution to end conflict with Israel.

REUTERS