Xinhua - English

RAMALLAH, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erekat warned on Saturday that the Palestinian people will pay high price for factional fighting that is prevailing in the Palestinian territories.

The infighting between the governing Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) and rival Fatah has affected the Palestinian cause, warned Erekat.

A total of 25 Palestinians have been killed and some 240 others wounded since Thursday afternoon during a new round of clashes between the two rivals, a recent medical statistic issued by the Health Ministry said.

According to observers, eight deals of calmness have collapsed since last December when Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who is also head of Fatah movement, called for early elections.

Hamas accuses several factions including Fatah of organizing a coup against the results of last January's legislative elections that brought Hamas into office.

As for an expected meeting between Abbas and exiled Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal in Mecca, Erekat said that the meeting will discuss ways of boosting quietness between Hamas and Fatah as well as the political program of a future national unity government.

RAMALLAH, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) - A spokesman of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) announced late Friday that a new Gaza cease-fire had been reached following the fierce fighting between rival Hamas and Fatah gunmen which left at least 11 dead on the day.

Palestinian Fatah, Hamas agree to end Gaza inter-fighting

GAZA, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) - Leaders of rival Fatah movement and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) said here Friday afternoon that they had agreed, under an Egyptian diplomats' initiative, to end their armed fighting in the Gaza Strip.

Despite of the agreement, militants from the Hamas-led interior auxiliary force and President Mahmoud Abbas security forces continued fighting in Gaza Strip.

New wave of Palestinian factional fighting leaves 13 dead, 180 wounded

GAZA, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- Bloody clashes between Palestinian factions, which erupted in the Gaza Strip from Thursday afternoon, had left 13 Palestinians dead and about 180 others injured, medics and security sources reported Friday.

Palestinian security sources said the toughest armed clashes and gun battles took place at the Islamic University of Gaza and the building of Hamas-led Interior Ministry in western Gaza City.