Fears Of A Palestinian Civil War Grow

Heavy Fighting Between Hamas And Fatah Leaves Jordanian Diplomat Dead

(CBS/AP) 

TV footage of the incident showed a Hamas gunman pressed against a wall firing a burst of gunfire across a road before a comrade fiercely gestured for him to stop shooting. A few moments later, the Jordanian vehicle, with a bullet hole in the windshield, is seen slowly moving down the road before stopping and rolling backward.

The ambassador, Yehiya Qarallah, was not in the vehicle at the time. Radaida was initially identified as the ambassador's driver. However, Jordanian embassy officials in Gaza later said he was the ambassador's administrative assistant and carried a Jordanian diplomatic passport.

Under police escort, the ambassador was taken to the morgue of Gaza City's Shifa Hospital and identified the driver. The diplomat sobbed as he emerged from the morgue.

Radaida's death brought to eight the number of people killed in internal fighting in Gaza this month.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar called the Jordanian ambassador in Gaza and expressed his condolences. Zahar said the death would be investigated.

Hamas and Palestinian security forces gave conflicting accounts of how Monday's fighting started.

The Preventive Security Service, a branch loyal to Abbas, said Hamas militiamen stopped one of its vehicles in the street and fired at the car. Hamas said some of its members came under fire during a patrol and sought cover in the abandoned building, then fired back.

During the fighting, Hamas gunmen closed main junctions and with raised weapons ordered drivers to turn back. The militiamen closed a large area between the parliament building and Palestinian police headquarters.

Abbas' Fatah movement, defeated by Hamas in January parliament elections, held Hamas responsible for the death of the Jordanian driver. Maher Maqdad, a Fatah spokesman in Gaza, said the Hamas militia is illegal and had no business patrolling near the police headquarters Monday. "When are they (Hamas leaders) going to realize that this unit is illegal and when are they going to dismantle it?" Maqdad said in a text message sent to reporters.

A Hamas spokesman, Sami Abu Zuhri, alleged that the fighting was triggered by what he called "suspicious figures" who he said opened fire on Hamas and police to stir trouble.

Earlier Monday, a gunmen linked to Abbas' Fatah movement was killed in fighting with Hamas near the southern Gaza town of Khan Younis. Fatah said two of its fighters were ambushed in their car, while Hamas said the firefight was triggered by Fatah's attempt to kidnap a Hamas member. A second Fatah gunman was wounded.

Tempers were also running high after two assassination attempts against security chiefs loyal to moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas over the weekend.

On Sunday, police found a 154-pound bomb on the road used by Rashid Abu Shbak, a commander recently appointed by Abbas to keep Hamas-controlled troops in check. On Saturday, a bomb planted in the elevator shaft of the Palestinian intelligence headquarters seriously wounded the Palestinian intelligence chief.

Fatah officials hinted they believed Hamas was behind both incidents but stopped short of making an open accusation against Hamas.

Abbas, also the Fatah leader, called on both sides to avoid violence and said he would open talks with Hamas later this week to end the dangerous power struggle.

"Civil war is the red line that nobody dares cross, no matter which side they are on ... Civil war is forbidden," Abbas told reporters at the World Economic Forum in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheik, where he met Israeli Foreign Minister Livni on Sunday.

In an interview with the Palestinian daily Al Quds, Abbas reiterated that as president, he has the power to disband the government and call new elections. However, Abbas said he would not take this step lightly.

"It is one of my rights as president to take this step," Abbas said. "But such a decision would not be justified unless Hamas gets a full opportunity (to rule). If it fails, then we can talk about disbanding the government."