Three Palestinians killed in internal violence in Gaza

GAZA, Oct 18 (Reuters) At least three Palestinians were killed in Gaza in clashes between Hamas Islamists and a clan loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah, hospital officials said.

A Hamas security officer and two members of a clan loyal to the secular Fatah movement were killed in the fighting in Gaza City yesterday, the officials said.

Local residents said the fighting started when Hamas security forces tried to arrest one of the clan members.

The clash is one of the biggest since Hamas took over the Gaza Strip after routing Abbas's forces in a brief civil war in June.

REUTERS CS BST0408