Gaza factions battle near Islamic university

GAZA, Jan 27 (Reuters) Rival Palestinian forces clashed in the Gaza Strip today near the pro-Hamas Islamic University, killing at least two people in some of the fiercest infighting since Hamas's election victory a year ago.

Gaza City's streets were almost deserted and shops closed after ordinary Palestinians sought the shelter of their homes as the power struggle between Hamas and the once-dominant Fatah faction again boiled over into bloodshed.

One of the dead in the gun battles near the university was believed to be a student who was caught in the crossfire, witnesses said.

In the latest of a string of abductions, four members of a security force loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah, including Abed Abdeen, a local Fatah commander in the southern Gaza Strip, were taken captive by unknown gunmen.

Abdeen's relatives and fellow gunmen later said they seized seven Hamas men in the southern town of Khan Younis in retaliation.

Overnight, a member of the Hamas-led police force died of his wounds, bringing the death toll from yesterday's factional fighting to 16, the highest in a single day, hospital officials said.

At least 48 Palestinians have been killed in factional fighting since Abbas called last month for new presidential and parliamentary elections after inconclusive talks with Hamas on a unity government. Hamas said a new vote would amount to a coup.

Hamas has struggled to govern since taking office in March under the weight of U.S.-backed sanctions imposed because of its refusal to recognise Israel, renounce violence and abide by interim peace deals.

REVENGE Ayman Taha, a Hamas spokesman, vowed it would avenge those killed in the latest fighting. He accused Fatah of plotting with US backing to overthrow the Hamas-led government and said unity talks would remain on hold as long as killings continued.

The United States plans to pour more than 86 million dollars into strengthening Abbas's presidential guard as a counterweight to Hamas's own security force.

Tawfiq Abu Khoussa, a Fatah spokesman, blamed Hamas for starting the latest round of fighting.

Top Abbas aide Saeb Erekat told Reuters in Madrid, where the president held talks with Spanish officials, that efforts were being made to end the fighting.

Overnight, Hamas mounted a raid on the Gaza headquarters of the so-called Preventive Security service, a force dominated by Fatah members. No injuries were reported.

Rocket-propelled grenades were fired overnight at the home of Rashid Abu Shbak, an Abbas loyalist in charge of internal security in the Palestinian Authority. No one was hurt.

The Gaza home of Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud al-Zahar, a Hamas leader, was also hit by grenades but no one was injured.

Abbas, a moderate, and Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal had pledged a week ago to curb Palestinian bloodshed after failing in a meeting in Damascus to make progress on unity.

Hamas leaders have offered Israel a long-term truce in return for a viable Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, although the Islamist group's charter calls for the destruction of the Jewish state. Hamas continues to say that it will not formally recognise Israel.

REUTERS SY MIR RAI2129