Hamas clashes with Palestinian gunmen in Gaza

DOZENS of Hamas gunmen rushed to the aid of a Cabinet minister yesterday after he was confronted by angry gunmen, sparking a shoot-out that left three people wounded in the latest explosion of infighting in the Gaza Strip.

The incident showed how the new Hamas-led government is turning to its private army to impose order as it battles the rival Fatah movement for control of Palestinian security forces.

The power struggle has grown increasingly contentious in recent days since Hamas announced plans to form a new security agency headed by a militant wanted by Israel.