Hamas gunmen attack Fatah HQ in Gaza City

GAZA, June 12 (Reuters) Hamas gunmen stormed a Fatah security headquarters in Gaza City today, moving Palestinians closer to civil war, minutes after the Islamist group's deadline for Fatah to quit key facilities expired.

An announcement on a Hamas radio station had given Fatah until 1630 IST to pull security men out of the military intelligence, presidential guard, national security and preventive security facilities.

After the deadline passed, witnesses said gunmen from Hamas's armed wing attacked against a large security compound of Fatah's national security forces in Gaza City.

Heavy gunfire and explosions sounded in the area, but there was no immediate word on casualties.

Hamas and Fatah have been locked in a new surge of fighting that has verged on civil war and killed at least 20 people since Saturday.

The battles reflect a raging power struggle between Hamas and secular Fatah, partners in a three-month-old unity government.

In fresh flareups, gunmen fired at the home of Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas and the office of President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah. No one was hurt.

Aides to both men accused members of the rival factions of plotting a coup.

Hamas gunmen swept into Fatah posts across the coastal territory, capturing some in battles and others without a fight, local residents said, describing the northern and central Gaza Strip as largely under the Islamist group's control.

The attacks followed fighting on Monday in which at least 14 people were killed.

The violence, described by Gazans as more brutal than in the past, has included a shootout in a hospital, dropping foes to their deaths from high-rise buildings and the execution-style slaying of a Fatah field commander outside his home.

Some 630 Palestinians have died in internal strife since Hamas came to power in early 2006.

REUTERS RKM KN1805