GAZA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian Hamas movement on Sunday said it studies to suspend participation in inter-Palestinian dialogue following the killing of its two members by security forces of president Mahmoud Abbas in the West Bank.

    "We are now studying the suspension of our participation in the Cairo-hosted dialogue as part of the response to the assassination of two holy fighters in Qalqilya city in the West Bank," Salah al-Bardaweel, a Hamas spokesman, told reporters in Gaza.

    Three policemen and a civilian were also killed in the armed clashes which broke off early Sunday between the two Hamas gunmen and the security forces.

    Al-Bardaweel reiterated that what happened was "a plot the Palestinian (National) Authority (PNA) and Israel planned to end the resistance and uproot Hamas," in the West Bank, ruled by Abbas' Fatah party.

    Since Hamas routed pro-Abbas forces and seized control of Gaza in 2007, the two sides clamped down against their political opponents, Hamas supporters in the West Bank and Fatah members in Gaza.

    However, the shootout in Qalqilya was the deadliest incident.

    The tension comes as Palestinian factions are initially scheduled to sign a reconciliation deal in Cairo on July 7. Prior to this, Egypt would continue sponsoring efforts to bridge the gaps between Hamas and Fatah that are still failing to agree on a unity government.

Fatah, Hamas trade accusations over W Bank shootout

    GAZA/RAMALLAH, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Rival Fatah and Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Sunday traded accusations over armed clashes in the West Bank city of Qalqilya that killed six people.

    Witnesses told Xinhua that three security forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas, two Hamas militants and the owner of a building in which the Hamas gunmen took refuge, were killed in the gunbattle that lasted for nine hours. Full story

Fatah says 16 members arrested by Hamas in Gaza

    GAZA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, Fatah movement's armed wing, accused Hamas security forces on Sunday of arresting 16 Fatah members in the Gaza Strip.

    The group said in a leaflet that security forces with the deposed government of Hamas in Gaza had carried out a large campaign of arrests of al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades members. Full story

Hamas says Abbas forces attack in W Bank "high treason"

    RAMALLAH, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in Gaza on Sunday slammed Palestinian security forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas over armed clashes with its militants in the West Bank city of Qalqilya.

    Ihab al-Ghussein, Interior Ministry spokesman for the deposed Hamas government in Gaza, said in a statement that "the security forces attack in Qalqilya is a real high treason." Full story

Hamas holds Abbas responsible for West Bank clashes

    GAZA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The Islamic Hamas movement on Sunday blamed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his Fatah party for the killing of two Hamas militants during a gun battle in the West Bank.

    Three Palestinian policemen and the owner of the house where the Hamas militants were based also died in the fierce clashes in Qalqilya city early Sunday, witnesses and security sources said. Full story

Special Report: Palestine-Israel Conflicts