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Violence halts Hamas-Fatah negotiations

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JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah have suspended talks because of a groundswell of violence between them, spokesmen for the two groups said Friday.

Ongoing clashes between the two groups Friday left at least 11 people dead -- including civilians and Fatah and Hamas militants -- and in three locations in Gaza, Palestinian security and medical sources said.

Eight people were killed and about 30 people wounded at the Jabalya refugee camp north of Gaza City, the sources said.

At least two people were killed in clashes in Gaza City, and a two-year-old boy was killed in Khan Yunis, the Palestinian sources said.

In addition, at least 18 people on both sides were kidnapped.

The Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades -- Fatah's militant wing -- also kidnapped 11 Hamas members in Nablus in the West Bank but later released them, a spokesman for the Brigades said.

Fighting between Fatah and Hamas has raged in recent months.

The two groups have differences in ideology and vision over what a Palestinian state should be and how it should be formed.

Hamas, which has controlled the Palestinian government since historic elections last year, refuses to recognize the existence of Israel, a prerequisite laid down by Western financial backers if a freezing of funds to the Palestinian territories is to be lifted.

Fatah-aligned Mahmoud Abbas remains the Palestinian Authority president.

On Sunday, Abbas met with Hamas exiled political leader Khaled Mashaal in Syria, but the two failed to make much progress toward creation of a national unity government, they told reporters.

One of the sticking points is how the competing security forces of Fatah and Hamas should divide their responsibilities.

Both sides expressed a desire to continue the discussions. They also agreed on the need to stop the spilling of Palestinian blood in factional fighting.

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