Gaza City: Leaders of the rival Fatah and Islamic Hamas movements agreed under Egyptian mediation to a truce in the Gaza Strip that goes into effect at 3.00 a.m. today (Jan 31, 2007)(0100 GMT), Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud al-Zahar announced.

Al-Zahar told reporters following a two-hour meeting Monday night that the two sides agreed to end all types of inter-fighting and incitement.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, al-Zahar, senior Fatah leaders, and members of the Egyptian security delegation as well as representatives of different Palestinian Islamic and national political groups attended the meeting here.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas sent his representative Rawhi Fattouh to the meeting, where an agreement was reached between the two rival movements under the sponsorship of Egypt.

At least 33 Palestinians, including five children, were killed and over 120 injured in fighting between the two factions since Thursday night, according to official figures issued by the Palestinian health ministry.

Under the new truce, the sides agreed to pull all militia members from the streets, remove all checkpoints and end all forms of incitement, as well as free all kidnapped members of the two movements.

The truce designates the Palestinian government as responsible for restoring public discipline, security and the rule of law. Both sides also resolved to end all mutual media statements and propaganda against each other.

In addition, the two movements should hand over to the attorney general any suspects involved in recent clashes.

Abbas and Haniya are asked to call on their factions to stick to the truce and restart negotiations on a government of national unity. The two factions have been at odds since Hamas won legislative elections and formed a government in March 2006.