Hamas-Fatah shootout kills one militant

A Hamas gunman was killed and one was wounded today in a shootout with the rival Fatah group, officials with both Palestinian factions said.

It was the first fatality in such fighting since leaders of the two sides reached a Saudi-sponsored agreement to form a national unity government a month ago.

Each side blamed the other for starting the firefight in the town of Beit Hanoun in the northern part of the coastal strip.

Residents said gunfire and explosions were echoing across the town as a Fatah office and a separate Fatah security complex came under mortar fire.

Fatah and Hamas have been negotiating details of a unity government since their Feb. 8 agreement ended fighting that left more than 90 people dead.