BBC News Online: World: Middle East

Palestinians bury their dead

It was the worst inter-Palestinian violence for years

Sixty people were injured in the clashes, which took place between Islamic militants and Palestinian police.

Another militant group, Islamic Jihad, distributed leaflets at the funerals saying it would do its part to preserve Palestinian unity - but stopping short of any explicit commitment to suspend attacks.

A senior Palestinian representative, Saeb Erekat, said the onus was now on Israel to make the next move towards ending the conflict.

Quiet returns

The six separate funerals in and around Gaza City all took place without incident, as Palestinian leaders called for an end to the inter-Palestinian violence.

Thousands of people took part in the ceremonies, which were mostly low-key events. No firearms were allowed.

At one point, mourners formed a human chain to prevent any further trouble, according to the French AFP news agency.

The relative quiet came after a late-night meeting between representatives of Yasser Arafat's Palestinian Authority and of the hard-line militants on ways of preserving Palestinian unity.

The meeting resulted in a compromise over the fate of a senior Hamas leader, Abdul Aziz al-Rantissi.

Thousands of Hamas supporters turned out on Thursday to prevent Palestinian police from arresting Mr al-Rantissi.

He has agreed to be confined to house arrest and not to give media interviews in return for the Palestinian police suspending their effort to apprehend him.

The chief Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat, says the next move towards halting the conflict in the region is now up to Israel.

Mr Erekat said Israel could stop its selective attacks on militants and lift the blockade of Palestinian areas.

Israel has given a sceptical reaction to the Hamas ceasefire announcement, while the United States called for a halt to all violence and urged Yasser Arafat to take more action against militants.