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Shots fired at Hamas chief's home

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Palestinian police guard a checkpoint in Beit Lahia in the northern tip of Gaza  


JERUSALEM (CNN) -- At least five people were injured early Thursday when Palestinian security forces stormed a house belonging to a senior Hamas leader.

The police officers met resistance from Hamas supporters outside the Gaza City home of Abdel Rantisi, the most high-profile leader the Palestinian Authority has attempted to arrest in its crackdown on terror suspects.

Rantisi's supporters gathered around the home and prevented police from arresting him. Shots were fired, injuring three Palestinian police and two Hamas supporters.

Overnight, the Palestinian Authority continued its crackdown on suspected militants, announcing for the first time it had arrested members of its own security forces.

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Fifteen officers were arrested on suspicion that they had participated in attacks on Israelis.

Israel has long maintained Palestinian security officers are among those carrying out such attacks.

Meanwhile, few details have emerged on the high-level talks Wednesday night between Israeli and Palestinian security officials on how to prevent terror attacks.

One Palestinian present at the meeting reported disappointing results, while Israeli sources said the talks went well.

The resumption of direct security talks was welcomed by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell, who met with Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt and European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana in Washington.

The United States and EU encouraged an end to violence between Israelis and Palestinians.



 
 
 
 


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• Palestinian Authority
• Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• U.S. Department of State
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• United Nations

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