Hamas attacks major Fatah security compound

GAZA, June 14 (Reuters) Hamas fighters bombarded a major security compound belonging to the rival Fatah group in Gaza City today as the Islamist movement appeared to tighten its grip on the territory in fierce factional fighting.

Hamas's seizure of the heavily fortified Preventive Security base would deal a strong blow to forces loyal to Western-backed President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah after five days of battles in which the Islamist group's armed wing has made major gains.

More than 80 people, mostly gunmen but also children and other civilians, have been killed since Saturday in the bloodiest violence between the factions since Hamas used its Gaza power base to win a parliamentary election early last year.

Hamas forces fired mortar bombs at the Preventive Security Compound immediately after the expiry of a deadline, which gave Fatah fighters holding the position 15 minutes to surrender. The ultimatum was broadcast on a Hamas radio station.

A Fatah official said Abbas would issue at around 1300 hrs IST an announcement on the future of the unity government that his movement formed with Hamas in March in a bid to end factional violence and ease Western sanctions.

Fatah threatened on Tuesday to quit the coalition, a move that could let Abbas rule by decree -- although the surge in bloodshed has shown his authority does not extend far in Gaza.

Residents said Hamas forces appeared to be in control of considerable areas of the crowded territory and were surrounding Fatah forces in several bases.

INTERNATIONAL FORCE Faced with the prospect of a Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said an international force along the territory's border with Egypt should be considered.

Hamas, which along with other militant groups smuggles weapons into Gaza in tunnels built under the frontier, rejected the idea.

''The movement would regard those forces as occupation forces no different to the Israeli occupation, regardless of their nationality,'' Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said.

The European Union's foreign policy chief said yesterday the EU would consider participation in an international contingent.

At the United Nations, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also raised the possibility of ''an international presence'' during a lunch with U.N. Security Council members.

He said Abbas had asked him to consider UN involvement during a telephone call on Tuesday.

Abbas also spoke to the main Hamas leader in Gaza, Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh, by telephone late yesterday. Officials from both sides said they expressed a desire for the fighting to end but conditions for a truce have not been met.

Hamas officials said Haniyeh was demanding Abbas hand him full control of Palestinian security forces under the terms of an agreement forged with Arab mediation at Mecca which led to Haniyeh bringing members of Fatah into a unity cabinet in March.

Abbas, officials said, has insisted that Hamas must stop fighting before he will negotiate.

Abbas is in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Analysts say a break with Hamas could divide the two territories Palestinians want for their state and leave Gaza and the West Bank estranged.

Israel, the United States and European Union all favour Abbas over Hamas, which has ties to Iran and Syria, but a supply of arms and training to forces loyal to the president has not prevented what appears to be a substantial success by Hamas fighters in seizing control of much of the Gaza Strip.

Reuters SG DB1340