Palestinian PM unhurt after attack

Unidentified gunmen opened fire on security vehicles escorting Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh's convoy through Gaza yesterday, but the Hamas leader was unhurt, officials from the Islamist movement said.

Officials in Mr Haniyeh's office said the attack did not appear to be an assassination attempt, but it comes at a time of growing tensions between rival Palestinian factions that have stirred fears of civil war.

"The Prime Minister is alright and he is out of the area which witnessed the gunfire. His car was not attacked," one official in Mr Haniyeh's office said.

Officials said gunfire hit vehicles of a Hamas-led police force that was behind cars carrying Mr Haniyeh, who had just finished a speech at a mosque, where he said he would reject any moves by President Mahmoud Abbas to oust his government.

Residents in the area said the attackers were relatives of an activist from Mr Abbas's Fatah faction who was killed earlier this month in clashes with Hamas. Hamas security officials returned fire and one of the Hamas vehicles was set alight.

Hamas did not blame any group for the attack, which came after officials from Hamas and Fatah pledged to take steps to end internal violence during overnight talks brokered by neighbouring Egypt.

At least 19 people have been killed this month in violence between the two factions.

Mr Abbas has hinted he might fire the Hamas government after efforts to form a unity cabinet aimed at lifting crippling Western sanctions foundered over the Islamist movement's refusal to soften its stance towards Israel.

Mr Haniyeh said it would be pointless for Abbas to do so, suggesting any emergency administration the president appointed would not get the ultimate approval of parliament, where Hamas has an absolute majority.