Hamas security forces opened fire on stone-throwing Fatah demonsrators in the southern Gaza Strip town of Khan Yunis, wounding four Fatah activists on Tuesday, one day after the killing of three children of a Fatah-linked official raised the specter of civil war.

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas ordered security forces to deploy across Gaza on Tuesday after the killing of the young sons of one of his loyalists shocked Palestinians.

A senior official from Abbas's Fatah faction, Hussein al-Sheikh, said Tueasday that the Hamas government bore responsibility for the drive-by shooting.

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"Of course people very close to Hamas to say the least are behind the killings. We hold the government and the interior minister directly responsible," Sheikh said. "These are mafias, killer gangs," he added, referring to the perpetrators of the drive-by shooting.

Senior Hamas lawmaker Mushir al-Masri angrily denied the militant movement had anything to do with the attack.

"It seems some Fatah leaders are exploiting the blood of innocent children to earn political gains. We hold those leaders fully responsible for the grave consequences that may result from the fabrication and lies they are making."

Abbas deploys heavily-armed forces
Early on Tuesday, heavily-armed members of Abbas's security forces took up positions around key installations and road junctions in Gaza City.

"Palestinian security forces deployed in all streets of Gaza City to prevent crime. This was upon orders from President Abbas," said one Palestinian security source.

A force loyal to the Hamas government also strengthened its positions. There was no immediate sign of friction between the Abbas and Hamas loyalists, but fear of fresh clashes deepened sharply on Monday.

It was the first time that children have been targeted in such an attack. Angry mourners firing guns stormed the parliament compound during the funeral for the boys, aged 6 to 9.

A senior Palestinian intelligence official in the occupied West Bank said it was unclear who was behind the attack on Colonel Baha Balousha's children.

Besides internal political unrest, Gaza is riven with clan fighting and a surge in crime following a Western aid embargo on the Hamas government that has deepened poverty.

Political tension has been rising over the failure of Hamas and the formerly dominant Fatah movement to form a unity government that Palestinians hope might end the Western boycott.

Abbas aides said on Saturday the chairman planned to call early elections after talks on a unity government foundered.

Hamas accused Abbas of trying to topple the government.