PALESTINIAN MILITANTS AND SECURITY MEN INVOLVED IN RECENT DEADLY CLASHES WITHDREW FROM THE STREETS OF GAZA ON SATURDAY FOLLOWING AN ORDER BY PRIME MINISTER AND HAMAS LEADER ISMAIL HANIYEH, REUTERS REPORTED. GUNBATTLES BETWEEN POLICE AND MILITANTS ON FRIDAY, DURING WHICH THREE PEOPLE DIED, POSED A MAJOR CHALLENGE FOR HAMAS DAYS AFTER IT TOOK OVER RUNNING THE PALESTINIAN GOVERNMENT. 'ARMED MEN FROM ALL THE PARTIES INVOLVED IN YESTERDAY'S CLASHES WITHDREW FROM THE STREETS IN A POSITIVE RESPONSE AND COOPERATION FROM THEIR SIDE WITH THE CALL OF THE GOVERNMENT,' SAID INTERIOR MINISTRY SPOKESMAN KHALED ABU HLAL. HANIYEH SAID ON SATURDAY HIS GOVERNMENT, WHICH BEAT ABBAS'S FATAH IN A JANUARY ELECTION AND NOW CONTROLS TENS OF THOUSANDS OF SECURITY OFFICERS, HAD ORDERED THE GUNMEN INVOLVED IN THE CLASHES TO LEAVE THE STREETS IN A BID TO END TENSION. 'WHAT HAPPENED WAS DANGEROUS AND MUST NOT BE REPEATED,' HANIYEH TOLD REPORTERS. --SP 15 29 LOCAL TIME 12 29 GMT
