Three die in Hamas-Fatah gun battle in Gaza -medics

GAZA, May 8 (Reuters) - At least three armed Palestinians were killed on Monday in gun battles in the Gaza Strip between the rival Hamas and Fatah groups, the most serious internal violence in the territory since Hamas came to power.

Medical officials in the southern town of Khan Younis identified the dead as two Fatah members of the Palestinian security services and a Hamas gunman and said 10 other participants in the fighting were wounded.

The violence followed failed efforts over the weekend by President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas to resolve disputes over security control and find ways to end an international financial boycott.

Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman, said the clashes began after Fatah security men "kidnapped" three members of the Hamas's armed wing, the Izz el-Deen al-Qassam brigades.

Gunmen from the brigades then surrounded the area where their comrades were being held and captured four Fatah men, he said.

A Hamas gunman was shot dead in an initial round of fighting and two Fatah men were killed in a second clash, Abu Zuhri added.

"We are exerting efforts to end the standoff and prevent an explosion from happening," Abu Zuhri said. "We hope we will be able to end this regrettable incident and prevent further deterioration, which will not serve the interests of any of the Palestinian parties," he said.

There was no immediate comment from Fatah, the long-dominant faction defeated by Hamas, an Islamist group dedicated to Israel's destruction, in the January 25 Palestinian parliamentary election.

Last month, 20 people were wounded in fighting between Hamas and Fatah supporters in Gaza after exiled Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal condemned Abbas's veto of a new security force, formed by Hamas and headed by a top militant.