Rival Palestinian Gunmen Battle in Gaza for 5th Day, Death Toll Up to 30
29 January 2007
Rival groups of Palestinian gunmen are fighting each other for a fifth day in Gaza after another night of deadly violence.
Supporters of Hamas and Fatah battled through the night in Gaza City, the southern town of Khan Younis, and northern Gaza. Palestinian officials said Monday 30 people have been killed since the factional fighting began late Thursday, including several children.
Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah offered Sunday to host a meeting of Hamas and Fatah leaders in Mecca for talks on ending the violence, which the king described as "shameful". Both sides accepted the offer, but no date for a meeting has been announced.
The factional fighting spread to the West Bank Sunday, where Fatah fighters set fire to the Hamas-controlled Education Ministry building in Nablus. Militants also carried out tit-for-tat kidnappings today in both Gaza and the West Bank.
The violence is the deadliest between the two groups since Hamas defeated Fatah in parliamentary elections one year ago.
Hamas and Fatah accuse each other of provoking the violence, which has derailed efforts by both sides to form a unity government.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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