AMMAN, Jordan, Oct. 2 (UPI) -- Inter-Palestinian fighting drew Arab and Islamic condemnations as well as pleas to avoid any action that would only serve the enemies of the Palestinian people.
Jordanian Prime Minister Maruf Bakhit cautioned Monday against the great danger of internal strife, calling for an immediate diffusion of tensions between Fatah and Hamas.
"We have always been warning against what we feared most, notably internal Palestinian fighting which would weaken the Palestinian front," he said, urging belligerents to iron out differences and agree on a common stance.
Iran also called for avoiding internal conflicts "which only serve the (Israeli) occupant," Iranian news agency IRNA reported.
Islamists in Jordan called for hosting a national reconciliation meeting for the various Palestinian factions in Amman.
Egypt's Islamists also called on Palestinian groups to stop internal strife, stressing that "such acts only serve the interests of Israel and the United States."
Earlier Monday, Rival Fatah and Hamas leaders exchanged accusations over clashes between their followers, in which nine were killed and more than 100 injured Sunday.
Fatah official Samir Mashharawi held Said Siyam, interior minister in the Hamas-led government, responsible for the Gaza violence which pitted a special ministry force of Hamas fighters against Fatah security forces who were protesting against not being paid full salaries for more than seven months.
A strike organized by Fatah was observed throughout the West Bank to protest against inter-Palestinian fighting, as Hamas ordered government institutions to suspend work to denounce "attacks against official establishments."
