Hamas opens fire on Fatah protesters

KHAN YUNIS, Gaza, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- At least four people were reported wounded Tuesday in Gaza Strip gunfire exchanges between Hamas security forces and Fatah protesters.

The Fatah supporters marched in several places protesting Monday's drive-by killings of three young sons of a Palestinian security chief and Fatah member, the BBC said.

The gunfire exchange happened in the southern Gaza town of Khan Yunis, Israel's Haaretz newspaper reported.

Both Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party and Hamas officials condemned the children's killings but no one has claimed responsibility for the attack.

A senior Fatah official, Hussein al-Sheikh, said the Hamas government bore responsibility for the children's deaths while senior Hamas lawmaker Mushir al-Masri denied any party complicity.

"It seems some Fatah leaders are exploiting the blood of innocent children to earn political gains," Masri said.

To avoid full-out civil war, the newspaper said Abbas ordered the deployment of security forces throughout Gaza Tuesday.