PM Haniyeh guards fired on: Pro-Hamas official

Gaza, May 17: An official in the Palestinian government who is sympathetic to Hamas said up to three unknown gunmen had fired on guards at the residence of Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh late today, but hit no one.

The alleged incident at Haniyeh's home in Gaza's Beach refugee camp came near midnight (0030 IST), some four hours after Haniyeh's Hamas Islamist movement and forces loyal to the secular Fatah faction of President Mahmoud Abbas declared another ceasefire following days of violence in the enclave.

''Three gunmen opened fire on the guards outside the prime minister's house,'' said the official, who spoke to Reuters on condition that he was not named. ''Thankfully there were no injuries ... Security guards are now searching the area.'' In a separate incident in the previous hour, Hamas's armed wing said in a statement that Abbas's Presidential Guards had shot dead a Hamas fighter who was on guard duty in a Gaza street. No comment on the alleged shooting was immediately available from Abbas's office.

Reuters>