UN workers killed in Gaza, most operations suspended

GAZA, Jun 13 (Reuters) Two Palestinian employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) were shot dead in the Gaza Strip and the agency said today it was suspending most of its operations due to the internal fighting.

UNRWA spokesman Christopher Gunness said one of the employees was shot in the abdomen yesterday and died today. The other employee was shot in the head today.

Gunness said they are the first U N employees killed in Gaza since internal fighting erupted between Hamas Islamists and President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction last year.

Gunness said they appeared to have been caught in the crossfire and not targeted because of their work for the U.N.

agency, which provides services to Palestinian refugees.

''In view of increased threats to our staff, UNRWA has no choice but to scale back its operations in Gaza with immediate effect,'' Gunness said. He said the agency was temporarily suspending all but emergency medical and food programmes.

REUTERS SM HT1835