Fierce gunbattles break out between Hamas and Fatah

A series of heavy gunbattles between Hamas and Fatah militants broke out in Gaza City today, despite a two-day-old truce that had largely ended factional violence.

The early morning street fight came after two Hamas militants, including a senior member of the Islamic group were kidnapped last night, security officials said.

The kidnappers of one of the men fired assault rifles in the streets and injured a bystander.

Hamas blamed the kidnapping on a clan affiliated with Fatah that was trying to avenge the killing of two of its members in the earlier round of violence.

Ayman Jirjawi, a man in his 20s injured in the course of the kidnapping, died of his wounds this morning, police said.

The gunbattle early this morning was fierce and chaotic and centred on the Hamas-controlled Foreign Ministry and the Gaza residence of President Mahmoud Abbas, of Fatah.

Abbas was not in Gaza at the time. Gunmen who had already taken up strategic positions on rooftops, exchanged fire with others in the streets. One witness estimated that more than 2,000 bullets were fired in 10 minutes.