Palestinian Factions Call Ceasefire

Hamas and Fatah have brokered a truce after two days of intense factional fighting that left 9 dead and 30 wounded. The Palestinian government has deployed its entire security force to the Gaza strip in an effort to maintain peace, but, the BBC observes, sporadic fighting continued Monday.

Interior Minister Hani Qawasmi, an independent, resigned yesterday, leaving PM Ismail Haniya to take personal control of the security effort. The battle between the  sects has claimed 400 lives since Hamas won control of parliament after Israel withdrew from Gaza in 2005. (More Palestine stories.)