Is This A Civil War Yet?

[Annie]

Such lovely people, surely they should have their own state, then all will be well.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070127/ap_on_re_mi_ea/palestinians_fighting

Hamas-Fatah violence continues; 20 dead

By IBRAHIM BARZAK, Associated Press Writer2 hours, 44 minutes ago

Gunmen from the rival Hamas and Fatah movements battled in Gaza City for a third straight day Saturday, firing mortars and grenades in clashes that killed two men in the increasingly bloody power struggle over the Palestinian government.

The deaths brought to 20 the number of Palestinians killed since late Thursday, with at least 66 people wounded and efforts to forge a coalition government at a standstill.

The latest fighting, which started late Thursday after a Hamas activist was killed in a bombing, has been among the deadliest in nearly two months of clashes.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas issued a statement calling for calm.

But in a clear jab at the moderate Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah, Haniyeh criticized "troublemakers who are trying to veer away from the path of our people" by receiving "dirty American funding and arms." The White House is seeking some $85 million to help bolster Abbas' forces.

The violence has been fueled by Abbas' pledge to call early elections if the talks between Hamas and Fatah fail. Abbas, who is traveling in Europe, said this week he would move forward with his election plan if the coalition talks fail to produce results within three weeks.

Hamas, which defeated Fatah in parliamentary elections last year, opposes a new vote...