Special report: Internal situation in Palestine

    GAZA, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- A Palestinian factional committee announced on Saturday that rivals Fatah and Hamas groups are holding on to an internal deal of cease-fire in spite of sporadic violations.

    In a joint written statement, representatives of the two movements agreed to stop media escalation and set up a joint office to monitor any future breach in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

    The factions met in Gaza under sponsorship by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and representatives of parties, including officials from the governing Hamas and Fatah, attended meeting.

    The groups discussed steps taken to form an investigating committee into a week of bloody clashes between the two movements that killed more than 15 Palestinians.

    The internal fighting of Palestinians has erupted since President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah called for early elections last Saturday. The ruling Hamas considered Abbas' call a coup against its government that has been crippling due to international boycott.

    Gunmen from both sides agreed on a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip on midnight of Dec. 17 after two days heavy clashes.

    Abbas said on Tuesday night that a comprehensive ceasefire between Hamas and Fatah would take effect at 23:00 (2100 GMT) in the Gaza Strip.

    However, a series of gun battles between the two sides still broke out after the cease-fire.

    On Saturday morning, a security officer loyal to Abbas was seriously injured when unknown gunmen attacked his car in southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah. A bystander girl and a bodyguard were also wounded in the shootout.

    It also follows a day of fierce gun battles between Hamas militants and Fatah gunmen in West Bank city of Nablus on Friday.

    Despite the ceasefire deal, a militant linked with Fatah opened fire on Hamas people who were preparing for a rally marking the 9th anniversary of the movement.

    Hamas has responded and the situation developed to fire exchange that raged in the city.

    Fatah spokesman Ahmed Abdel Rahman has condemned the violence on Friday in Nablus. "We will not allow violent acts or differences to happen between the Palestinians," Abdel Rahman told Voice of Palestine radio.

    Commenting about Abbas' last week call for early voting, Abdel Rahman admitted that Hamas "has come to the power in a legitimate way," but added there was a crisis "and every side has to make concessions to resolve it."

    Abbas said last Saturday that he decided to call early elections after failed talks with Hamas to form a unity government to help overcome the crisis of the current Hamas administration.