Eleven die as Gaza factions clash

Two civilians - one a two-year-old boy - were among those killed, Palestinian medics said.

The clashes erupted after weeks of relative calm and renewed efforts to form a national unity government.

Fatah said it was suspending the negotiations following the violence, which has continued into the night.

Both factions also kidnapped members of the opposing side during the day.

More than 40 people have died as a result of a power struggle between supporters of the Hamas-led government and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah faction since mid-December.

Echo of gunfire

The BBC's Alan Johnston in Gaza says there has been intensive mediation by Egyptian diplomats in an effort to stop the bloodshed there.

He says late in the evening word came that Fatah and Hamas had agreed to order their supporters off the streets.

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6301763.stm