Gaza protest erupts in violence

Tension between the factions in Gaza has risen sharply

Supporters of rival Palestinian groups, Fatah and Hamas, are reported to have exchanged gunfire in the Gaza Strip, wounding at least four people.

The gunfire broke out at a protest against growing lawlessness in the southern town of Khan Younis.

Tensions have soared in Gaza since the brutal killing of three young sons of a security chief and Fatah loyalist.

No group has said it carried out Monday's killings. Fatah and Hamas have both condemned the attack.

Witnesses said some of the injuries occurred when members of a Hamas-formed police militia opened fire on stone-throwing protesters.

Press fury at Gaza killing

Security force members loyal to Fatah reportedly joined in the fray. Hamas said two of its militiamen were wounded.

Medical sources said the injuries ranged from light to moderate. One young man received head wounds.

Reports say the Khan Younis demonstration quickly dispersed, and there were no further signs of unrest

Denials

Correspondents say impoverished Gaza could be on the brink of another round of internecine violence after the killing of Baha Balousheh's children as they were being driven to school.

Fatah loyalist Mr Balousheh is known as an enemy of Hamas

Fatah officials said Hamas-linked elements were behind the attack, although they have not directly named those they think responsible.

"People very close to Hamas, to say the least, are behind the killings. We hold the government and the interior minister directly responsible," said Fatah spokesman Hussein al-Sheikh.

However, Hamas officials have denied any connection with the death of the children, aged between six and 10.

"It seems some Fatah leaders are exploiting the blood of innocent children to earn political gains," said Senior Hamas MP Mushir al-Masri.

Children have visited a traditional mourning tent erected in Gaza City for their dead schoolfellows. Afterwards some burned tyres in protest at the killing.

Mr Balousheh is senior officer in the Palestinian intelligence services who in the 1990s spearheaded a harsh suppression of the Hamas movement.

The militant Islamist group won parliamentary elections in January, beating the mainstream Fatah, which had enjoyed uninterrupted control of Palestinian political institutions for decades.