Gaza foes tossed from buildings

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Rival Palestinian forces clashed in Gaza on Sunday, killing two militants by throwing them out of high-rise buildings. Gunmen fired shots at the house of Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas.

There were no immediate reports of casualties in the attack, apparently by the rival Fatah faction, early today on Haniyeh's house in the Shati refugee camp next to Gaza City.

In an especially grisly incident, Hamas militants kidnapped Mohammed Sweirki, 25, an officer in a Fatah-linked security force, took him to the roof of a 15-story apartment building and threw him off.

That set off skirmishes through the city, including gunbattles and shelling. Fatah militants seized Hamas mosque preacher Mohammed al-Rifati, 40, from his home. Later, his body was brought to a hospital. Hamas pledged revenge.

Just before midnight, a Hamas activist was thrown off the 12th floor of a building and killed, security officials said. Four other Hamas men in the building were shot and wounded, bringing the day's toll to three dead and 36 wounded, medical officials said. Also, a Hamas militant wounded Friday died Sunday.