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Haniyeh Orders Gunmen Off Gaza Streets, Fatah Militiaman Resists

01 April 2006

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh has vowed to get gunmen off the streets, after clashes between Palestinian factions in Gaza left three dead Friday.

Speaking Saturday, Mr. Haniyeh said the situation in Gaza is dangerous and he called for calm.

But a militiaman from the Fatah party rejected the move, as dozens of his supporters fired into the air.

Fatah leader Samir Masharawi said members of his party were offended by allegations that Fatah was responsible for Friday's clashes.

Also Saturday, Israel carried out new airstrikes on the Gaza Strip.

Israeli aircraft targeted areas allegedly used by Palestinian militants to launch rockets at southern Israel. There were no reports of casualties.

Friday's clashes between rival Palestinian factions erupted after Abu Yousef Abu Quka, the head of the militant Popular Resistance Committees, was killed when his car blew up outside a mosque.

The organization is linked to the militant Islamic group Hamas, and militants blamed Quka's death on Palestinian security forces controlled by Fatah.

On Friday, the United States barred all dealings with officials of the new Palestinian government controlled by Hamas.

But a State Department spokesman said American diplomats still can deal with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and officials under his control.

Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.

 

 

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