Special report: Internal situation in Palestine 

    GAZA, March 11 (Xinhua) -- Cautious calm has returned in the Gaza Strip on Sunday following a night of clashes between militants from the rival factions of Hamas and Fatah.

    Security forces were deployed on Gaza city streets and the scene of last night's clashes, northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Hanoun.

    The clashes sparked when unknown gunmen shot dead a Hamas militant in Beit Hanoun after midnight, after which Hamas accused"a suspicious group" of being behind the killing of 36-year-old Mohamed Jaddallah.

    Hours later, Hamas armed forces attacked several positions for the National Security troops loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah.

    The fighting was the most notable since last month when Hamas and Fatah movements agreed in Mecca to form a national unity government to end political crisis.

    Meanwhile, Fatah spokesman Tawfiq Abu Khoussa accused members of Izz el-Deen al-Qassam Brigades, the Hamas armed wing, of launching missiles at houses of five Fatah members.

    He also said that Hamas gunmen have attacked two cars for the National Security and set fire to small warehouses.

    For its part, Hamas has called on Fatah movement "to lift factional immunity on the murderers" of Hamas militants.

    "This criminal act aims at blocking Mecca agreement and the efforts to from the unity government," Hamas said in a statement faxed to the media.