Senior members of rival movements of Fatah and Hamas on Sunday traded accusations over three days of clashes that have killed 23 people.

Yehia Mussa, a Hamas lawmaker, accused Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of hampering efforts to reach a national deal between rival factions, especially the governing Hamas movement and Fatah led by Abbas.

"He (Abbas) is responsible for the current tension and blockade to the agreement. He is responsible for all forms of coup d'etat against the government," Mussa said.

But, Ahmed Abdel Rahman, a spokesman for Fatah, blamed Hamas- led forces for the security deterioration, saying that "Hamas does not abide by law or democracy ... it is doing whatever it wants."

Rahman reiterated that a national dialogue was the only solution, calling for integrating Hamas-controlled Auxiliary Forces into police service.

The latest wave of violence between the two movements began late Thursday. By Saturday night, at least 23 Palestinians have been killed and dozens wounded, obstructing a new round of national dialogue on forming a national unity government.

Source: Xinhua