Gaza clashes escalate amid truce

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Source: CCTV.com | 12-20-2006 08:49

A new truce to end fighting in Gaza has been announced by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

It came into force on Tuesday at 23:00 local time. Fighting between Hamas members and forces loyal to Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, broken out despite a truce between the two sides declared Monday. The Hamas government is again rejecting Abbas's call for early elections.

Clashes between the two Palestinian factions escalated, days after Abbas called for new elections in the Palestinian territories.

A fierce gun-battle erupted early Tuesday within the Shifa hospital compound in Gaza City.

Witnesses say a Hamas policeman was killed and 11 other people wounded.

Earlier in the center of Gaza City, a gunbattle between Hamas and Fatah left a teenager wounded.

Many blamed recent clashes on the Palestinian president's election plans. But Mahmoud Abbas has declared that he will continue to push ahead with his call for early elections.

The Palestinian basic law has no explicit provision for early elections, though it's not prohibited either. Fatah says Abbas can call them through presidential decree, but Hamas government officials say an early election would be illegal.

Ismail Haneya, Palestinian Prime Minister, said, "Our position is very clear. We refuse the call for early legislative elections. This is unconstitutional and creates a strategic regression to our political balance. It will take the Palestinian Area 10 years back."

Hamas, which won January parliamentary elections, and Fatah, which controls the presidency, had tried for months to form a unity government to end a bitter power struggle.

But tensions between the two factions have been even higher since talks on forming a coalition government broke down in late November.

Editor:Du Xiaodan