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Fatah: Mass arrests follow Gaza violence

  • Story Highlights
  • NEW: Hamas minister says fewer than 50 Fatah members arrested
  • Hamas security rounds up 400 people in overnight raids, Fatah official says
  • Monday violence left at least seven Palestinians dead and 55 wounded
  • Rally was on third anniversary of ex-Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's death
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(CNN) -- Hamas forces rounded up 400 people in overnight raids after clashes with rival Fatah gunmen that left at least seven Palestinians dead and more than 50 wounded, Fatah representative Hazem Abu Shanab said Tuesday.

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Fatah supporters carry a wounded comrade from clashes Monday with rival Palestinian faction Hamas.

But Hamas Interior Minister Siad Syam said fewer than 50 Fatah activists were arrested.

Syam said the disturbances Monday in Gaza City were part of a Fatah plot to make it appear that Hamas is losing control of Gaza before a planned Middle East peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland.

The violence broke out Monday after a rally commemorating the third anniversary of the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who led Fatah.

It is unclear how the outbreak began; each side blamed the other for firing first. Seven of the 55 wounded are in critical condition, Palestinian medical sources said. Photo View scenes from the rally, firefight »

The Gaza rally began Sunday, the third anniversary of Arafat's death, and wrapped up on Monday shortly before the fighting broke out.

Video footage showed crowds of men running down the street as gunfire erupted. Protesters carried some of the wounded off the streets to an awaiting ambulance. Video Watch the clashes erupt »

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It was the largest Fatah rally since Hamas took control of Gaza in mid-June, and violence had been widely expected.

There was a huge presence of Hamas' executive force to enforce security at the rally. E-mail to a friend E-mail to a friend

CNN's Ben Wedeman and Michal Zippori contributed to this report.

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