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14 Palestinians killed in Syria camp

A boy wraps himself in a Palestinian flag as he stands in front of Hamas riot policemen during a protest near the Erez border crossing between Israel and northern Gaza Strip June 5, 2011, marking the 44th anniversary of the start of a 1967 Middle East War in which Israel captured East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and Golan Heights. UPI/Ismael Mohamad.
A boy wraps himself in a Palestinian flag as he stands in front of Hamas riot policemen during a protest near the Erez border crossing between Israel and northern Gaza Strip June 5, 2011, marking the 44th anniversary of the start of a 1967 Middle East War in which Israel captured East Jerusalem, the Gaza Strip, the West Bank and Golan Heights. UPI/Ismael Mohamad. | License Photo

YARMOUK, Syria, June 7 (UPI) -- Palestinian militants opened fire at the Yarmouk refugee camp near Damascus following an attack on their headquarters, leaving 14 dead, officials said.

Thousands of mourners attending funerals in the camp Monday night for those killed Sunday by Israeli gunfire during a protest at the Israeli-Syrian border, expressed outrage at Palestinian leaders in the camp for failing to organize properly Sunday's protests, the Ma'an news agency said quoting the Palestinian WAFA news agency.

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The mourners attacked the general command headquarters of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and reportedly set it afire, Ma'an said. Militants inside the headquarters opened fire killing 14 people and injuring 43, the news agency said.

The Syrian Web site Bokra reported Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal was caught in the melee along with Ahmed Jibril, head of the PFLP command, and high ranking PFLP official Maher al-Taher.

Syrian state television said as many as 23 were killed in Sunday's protests while Israel has placed the number of fatalities at fewer than 10.

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