GAZA CITY - Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas insisted
Friday that his movement's 6,000-strong militia be recognized as a branch of the Palestinian security forces, a point of dispute that has sparked bloody clashes with the rival Fatah movement in the past.

Earlier Friday, Haniyeh called on rival Palestinian factions to end violence on Friday as gunmen loyal to his Islamist Hamas movement clashed with Fatah fighters on the streets of the Gaza Strip.

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Friday's clashes began after gunmen fired at a group of Hamas militants deployed east of Gaza City, witnesses said. The Hamas militants later attacked a house where they suspected Fatah gunmen were gathered.

One member of Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' Presidential Guard was abducted overnight in Gaza, a Fatah security source said. Hamas said one of its supporters was shot by a Fatah security officer.

Haniyeh said that one of his bodyguards was shot in the legs after being abducted by rival gunmen. The prime minister did not identify the attackers, but his aides pointed the finger at Fatah.

Fighting between the Hamas and Abbas' secular Fatah group on Thursday killed at least one Palestinian and wounded 12 others.

Fatah dominates the security forces. Fatah's leader, Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, has declared the Hamas militia illegal and wants it dismantled.

Tensions between Hamas and Fatah have risen in recent days, despite a truce reached last month. A Fatah supporter was killed in factional fighting on Thursday, and a Hamas backer was seized and shot in the legs by Fatah gunmen later in the day.

Hamas and Fatah have waged an increasingly bloody power struggle, including over control of the security forces, in the past year. The formation of a Hamas-Fatah coalition government in March calmed the situation only briefly, and deadly fighting erupted again in May. Haniyeh's interior minister resigned last month over his inability to enact a new security plan.

The Hamas militia, known as the Executive Force, was formed last year by the Hamas-only government as a response to its lack of authority over the security forces loyal to Abbas. Most of its members are drawn from the militant branch of Hamas. Clashes between the two sides soon followed and nearly 200 people have been killed since then.

Haniyeh, now also acting Palestinian interior minister, told worshippers in a mosque in the Jebaliya Refugee Camp, a Hamas-power base, that the Executive Force must be recognized and kept intact. "I say it is legal, and also has the bravest, cleanest and most loyal men," he said of the Executive Force.

Fatah has said the militia must be dismantled and has proposed to have militia members who qualify join existing branches of the security forces. Fatah spokesman Maher Mikdad said keeping the Hamas militia intact is a deal breaker.

"There is no approval to deploy this force as an independent group. I am afraid this will contribute to the failure of the security plan in general," he said.

Haniyeh said he is ready to establish a joint task force of members of various security branches, including the Hamas militia, to deal with chaos and lawlessness in Gaza.

Fatah and Hamas members have met with Egyptian officials in Cairo to find ways to end the internal fighting, and the joint force is on the agenda. Officials say both sides agree to the idea in principle, but haven't found a way to bring the warring factions together under one leadership.

"There are still discussions about how to implement it, Nimr Hamad, an Abbas aide," said.

Haniyeh, referring to reports that Fatah's security forces have asked for permission from Israel to import new weapons via Egypt, said Arab countries should not offer their help.

"It is not acceptable that any Arab country provide weapons to one side," he said, charging such shipments are part of an alleged U.S. and Israeli plot to bring down Hamas by force.

Haniyeh urged Arab countries to provide weapons for the new joint force, instead of arming one side against the other.

The once dominant Fatah entered a unity government in March with Hamas, victors in a parliamentary election 18 months ago, in an effort to end internal faction fighting and to help ease international sanctions imposed after Hamas took power. So far, the coalition government has failed to achieve either goal

"We are not in need of more new agreements, but we are in need of a political will to implement the existing agreements," Haniyeh said before Friday prayers at mosque in north Gaza.

Haniyeh appeared to blame Fatah for recent attacks that have escalated violence: "There are parties who do not want stability in the Palestinian internal situation. Some parties want to foil the government of national unity," he said.

Haniyeh also rejected aid coming from foreign countries, including several Arab states, that he said would strengthen Fatah. Israel has allowed Abbas's forces to bring in arms, ammunition and reinforcements from Egypt and other Arab states over the last year.

On Thursday, a Fatah man was killed by Hamas militants in a gunbattle in southern Gaza, Palestinian officials said, becoming the first casualty on internal fighting in more than two weeks.

Five others were injured in the gunbattle near Rafah, two seriously,
Palestinian hospital officials said.

An estimated 616 Palestinians have been killed in factional fighting since Hamas defeated Fatah in parliamentary elections in January 2006, a leading Palestinian rights group said on Wednesday.