EIGHT people were killed and the Palestinian cabinet building was set on fire yesterday in the worst outbreak of fighting between the rival Fatah and Hamas groups since the latter was elected to govern. Hamas militiamen's efforts to break up anti-government protests sparked running street battles across the Gaza Strip, and activists from the opposition Fatah group retaliated by torching the cabinet building in Ramallah on the West Bank. The violence dampened already fading hopes of a national unity government being formed by the two groups that could end crippling economic sanctions.
Six killed, 50 injured in this version in the Khaleej Times. |