(Xinhua) -- At least three people were hurt during clashes between gunmen from Fatah and Hamas in the West Bank city of Nablus Friday morning, Palestinian officials said. Witnesses said that gunmen loyal to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas opened fire on Hamas members, wounding at least three people, and at least one of the wounded was said to be in a very serious condition. They said about 200 Hamas activists and armed men were preparing for a rally in the downtown of Nablus when Fatah gunmen shot at them. There was no immediate comment from Fatah. Abbas has issued orders to security personnel to be deployed in the streets of Nablus to prevent further confrontations.
Violence between the rival factions has erupted since Abbas called for early elections last Saturday, leaving scores of people dead and wounded. Gunmen from both sides agreed on a cease-fire in Gaza Strip on midnight of Dec. 17 after two days heavy clashes. However, a series of gun battles between the two sides still broke out after the cease-fire, which was brokered by Egyptian mediators and other Palestinian factions. Abbas and Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haneya of Hamas have called for restraint from both sides, ordering armed men to evacuate from Gaza streets.