Palestinian militants opened fire at a sports day at a United Nations-operated elementary school in the southern Gaza Strip on Sunday, killing a bodyguard of a local Fatah leader and wounding seven other people, medical officials said.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility. But Muslim extremists had earlier visited the al-Amareya primary school in Rafah, warning authorities not to hold the event, UN and security officials said.

Local residents said the gunmen, whom they described as Muslim extremists, arrived at the school and warned through loudspeakers against letting boys and girls participate in the sports day.

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The gunmen said the event "taught children immoral values."

They also attacked and destroyed a vehicle belonging to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which runs the school.

UNRWA chief John Ging was inside the school when the shooting broke out, a UN official said. Ging was not hurt, but remained holed up inside the school, said the official.

In March, Ging escaped a kidnapping attempt unharmed after gunmen fired on his convoy. The incident prompted the UN to take stronger security measures, including police convoys for senior staff.

Abu Hasna said no UNRWA staff were wounded in Sunday's shooting, which was being investigated.

Palestinian medical officials identified the dead man as a bodyguard of Majid Abu Shameleh, a senior official in President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement.

Abu Shameleh was leaving the event when the shooting erupted. No children were hurt.

Fatah and the Islamic militant group Hamas formed a coalition government in March aimed at ending months of Palestinian infighting. While the sides have largely halted their attacks on each other, Gazacontinues to be plagued by clan violence, kidnappings and other crime.

The violence has included a string of attacks on Internet cafes, music stores and restaurants by Islamic extremists.