Hamas accuses Fatah over attack

"Fighting has broken out in the West Bank after Palestinian security forces fired on a Hamas rally in Ramallah.

At least 20 people were wounded in the clashes which came shortly after Hamas accused Fatah of attempting to assassinate Ismail Haniya, the Palestinian prime minister.

The ruling Hamas faction said they would punish those responsible for Thursday's attack at the Rafah crossing in Gaza which left one of Haniya's bodyguards dead.

The incident had raised fears of a civil war between the groups.

Another bodyguard, the prime minister's son and a political adviser were wounded.

Ismail Rudwan, a Hamas spokesman, said Mohammed Dahlan, a senior Fatah official and politician, was behind the armed attack on Haniya's convoy after it passed through the Rafah border from Egypt into Gaza late on Thursday night.

On Friday, Hamas was celebrating its 19th anniversary.

In Ramallah, the security units loyal to Mahmoud Abbas, the president, and dressed in riot gear, used clubs and rifles to beat back the demonstrators before the shooting broke out.

Assassin 'named'

Rudwan said: "Mohammed Dahlan bears the direct responsibility for the assassination attempt which targeted the prime minister and he bears responsibility for the blood of the martyrs in the incident.

"The dirty hands which assassinated and wounded the bodyguards of the prime minister and attacked the prime minister's convoy will not escape punishment."

Rudwan offered no evidence of Dahlan's involvement. He said the attempt on Haniya's life had been planned in advance and that the perpetrators had received order from foreign parties."