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GAZA - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas said a deal was reached to halt fierce clashes between their rival forces in the Gaza Strip, where six fighters were killed on Tuesday.
A previous ceasefire broke down within 24 hours and it was unclear whether this one would hold.
Security sources and witnesses said rival Palestinian security forces began withdrawing from parts of Gaza City under Tuesday's ceasefire, but minutes after it took effect residents reported an exchange of fire between gunmen.
The internal violence, the worst in a decade, has escalated since Abbas called for early elections on Saturday to try to break a political deadlock with the Hamas government.
A senior Abbas aide said the president planned to issue a decree next week calling for new Palestinian elections, a move Hamas has described as a "coup".
"We hope all will abide by this (ceasefire) agreement," Abbas told reporters in the West Bank city of Ramallah after Hamas and Fatah security chiefs appeared side by side in Gaza City to announce the deal.
Haniyeh also urged forces to abide by the deal.
The security chiefs said the agreement called for withdrawal of fighters from the streets starting at 11pm. (9am NZT).
Tuesday's death toll was the highest since internal fighting intensified over the weekend. Four of the six were killed in street battles. The bodies of two of Abbas' security men were found dead hours after their abduction, hospital officials said.
Concerned events were spinning out of control, Western and Arab nations urged a halt to the fighting.
The internal violence, the worst in a decade, has escalated since Abbas called for early elections on Saturday to try to break a political deadlock with the Hamas government.
Haniyeh reiterated that the movement rejected Abbas' election call and accused the United States of spearheading efforts to bring down his government. Hamas has said it would boycott any polls.
- REUTERS
