RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, refused Sunday to grant asylum in the West Bank to Fatah forces who fled to Israel on Saturday after intense fighting with Hamas forces in Gaza.

Mr. Abbas ordered nearly 200 fighters from his own Fatah faction back to Gaza, insisting that Fatah must retain a presence there. Gaza has been controlled by Hamas since a violent takeover in June 2007.

Fatah is not ready to write off Gaza, and Mr. Abbas also fears that Hamas there could export rebellion to the West Bank, which Fatah still dominates.

Hamas confirmed that it had detained the first group of 32 Fatah militants who were sent back to Gaza on Sunday but said that it later released all but five of them.

The wrangling over the fate of the 188 Fatah refugees came a day after the bloodiest fighting between Hamas and Fatah since Hamas took over Gaza. In all, 11 people were killed and dozens were wounded Saturday during a Hamas raid on a Fatah stronghold in Gaza City.

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