Fragile ceasefire in Gaza

Fierce factional fighting in Gaza that has left 16 people dead has come to an end for the moment after Hamas called for a unilateral ceasefire.

A Palestinian official said the rival Fatah faction is also holding fire.

Previous attempts to stem a flare-up of internal violence, that has killed at least 40 Palestinians since Friday, have fallen apart within hours, and it is unclear whether this one will be any different.

"We will unilaterally implement a ceasefire from 8pm this evening," said Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum.

A Palestinian official said that President Mahmoud Abbas, who leads Fatah, "gave orders to all security forces and Fatah men to cease fire immediately".

Earlier, In the deadliest single attack, five detained Hamas gunmen, a Fatah escort and the Fatah driver were killed when their vehicle, travelling to a detention centre, came under fire.

Security officials said the vehicle was attacked by Hamas fighters, but a spokesman for Hamas's Executive Force said they were "executed ... in cold blood" by Fatah.

Hamas said another of its members was "executed" earlier in the day by Fatah gunmen at a checkpoint.

Fatah said it suffered at least nine deaths, including four guards at Abu Shbak's home, a member of Mr Abbas's Presidential Guard and two member of pro-Fatah Preventive Security.

Terrified Gaza residents hid indoors as masked gunmen fought running battles street-to-street.

Israel also entered the fray with an air strike on a Hamas position that killed at least four gunmen.

Israel said it would stay on the sidelines of the deadliest Palestinian in-fighting in months but reserved the right to respond to rocket fire by Hamas and other Gaza militants.

Palestinian officials said the widening hostilities could bring down a two-month-old unity government formed between Hamas and Fatah.

Palestinians have warned that the government's collapse could lead to further violence and spell the end of the Palestinian Authority.

Western officials say the government's collapse could allow Mr Abbas to assert more control, leading to an end to a Western aid embargo, ahead of possible early elections.

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