Gaza: Fierce clashes between Fatah and Hamas leave 24 dead

WATCH VIDEO

Source: CCTV.com | 01-29-2007 07:41

In the Middle East, fighting rages on between the rival factions of Fatah and Hamas on Palestinian territory. The fierce clashes have left 24 people dead since last Thursday. And more than 76 people have been injured.

The sounds of explosions and gun fire echoed across the Palestinian territory on Sunday, amid fierce battles.

Militants affiliated with Fatah's armed wing, Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, marched into a Nablus bank and kidnapped a local Hamas leader.

The militants also raided the Nablus offices of the Education Ministry, abducting five employees, and setting the ministry ablaze.

And Hamas says three of its members have been abducted by Fatah in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahiya.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haneya presided over an emergency meeting of his cabinet, calling for calm.

Ismail Haneya, Palestinian PM, said, "We appeal to all our people: you have to preserve national unity, the language of dialogue and reason must prevail, you have to put weapons away from the streets and you have to end all forms of tension."

Haneya also urged Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to pull Fatah gunmen off the streets. And also to immediately remove the checkpoints in Gaza.

But a Fatah spokesman says Hamas has been triggering tensions through sabotage and killing.

This comes as both parties have called off talks to form a unity government, blaming each other for fanning violence.

Editor:Du Xiaodan