GAZA, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- The head of a Sunnite Islamic group which clashed with Hamas security forces since Friday, was killed, Palestinian medical sources said on Saturday.

    Clashes between Hamas security forces and Jihadi Salafi, a radical Sunnite Islamic group, continued for the second successive day in southern Gaza Strip, bringing the death toll to 20, medical sources and witnesses said.

    Medical sources added that up to 140 people were wounded in the heavy gunfire and explosions that have been taking place in Rafah town for the past 24 hours.

    According to local sources, Sheikh Abelatif Musa, better known as Abu Noor al-Maqdisi, spiritual leader of Jihadi Salafi, was killed when Hamas forces blew up his house where he had holed up with a group of armed followers.

    The fighting began on Friday when Sheikh Musa announced an Islamic emirate starting from Rafah, defying Hamas which has been controlling the Gaza Strip since 2007.

    Following Friday prayers at Iben Taymeyah mosque, where Musa had announced the Islamic statehood, members of Hamas military wing tried to arrest Musa, sparking the clashes with his supporters.

    Among the dead were a little girl, three boys and a local Hamas commander.

    The Interior Ministry of Hamas announced that Rafah city and its hospitals are closed to journalists "to maintain the general security," the ministry said in a statement.

    Hamas adopts medial Islam but some al-Qaida-inspired groups, such as Jund Anssar Allah, have flourished in Gaza, posing a real threat to Hamas.

    The clashes are the deadliest in months since Israel launched a 22-day large-scale war which ended on Jan. 18 in the Hamas-ruled enclave.

Rafah gun-battle goes on, 16 killed, 120 wounded

Members of a group called Jund Ansar Allah surround their leader Abdel-Latif Moussa (2nd-R) as he speaks during Friday prayers in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip August 14, 2009. Islamist radicals from the Palestinian group called Jund Ansar Allah defied the Hamas rulers of Gaza on Friday by declaring an "Islamic emirate" in the territory and staging a defiant display of arms. Photo Gallery>>>

    GAZA, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- After eight-hour armed fighting between Gaza ruling Hamas security forces and militants of a pro-al-Qaida group in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah on Friday,16 people were killed and 120 wounded, medics and witnesses said.

    According to medics at the Abu Yousef al-Najjar Hospital in the town, 16 people were killed and 120 wounded in fierce armed clashes between the two sides near the Iben Taymeyah mosque in the town that belongs to the group. Full story    

Hamas accuses pro-al-Qaida group of violating the law

 　GAZA, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Spokesman of the deposed Hamas government in Gaza accused on Friday an extremist Islamic group, affiliated with al-Qaida of violating the law and rashly seeking to establish an Islamic Emirate.

    Taher al-Nounou told a news conference in Gaza that his government "would never let security chaos in the Gaza Strip," after eight people were killed in fierce gun-battles between Hamas security forces and militants belong to the group. Full story

Hamas police clash with radical Islamic militants in S Gaza

Members of a group called Jund Ansar Allah stands guard during Friday prayers in Ben Taymeah mosque in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, Aug. 14, 2009. Islamist radicals from the Palestinian group called Jund Ansar Allah defied the Hamas rulers of Gaza on Friday.(Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    GAZA, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- Gaza ruling Islamic Hamas movement police and radical Islamic militants exchanged fire on Friday afternoon outside a mosque in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah, witnesses in the town said.

    Palestinian medics at Rafah hospital said nine people, including two Hamas militants and three civilian children, were injured during the clashes and that one was seriously injured.  Full story

Special Report: Palestine-Israel Conflicts