The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in Gaza on Sunday slammed Palestinian security forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas over armed clashes with its militants in the West Bank city of Qalqilya.

Ihab al-Ghussein, Interior Ministry spokesman for the deposed Hamas government in Gaza, said in a statement that "the security forces attack in Qalqilya is a real high treason."

Meanwhile, al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas armed wing in Gaza, said in a statement "What happened in Qalqilya is a preparation for a new era that aims at getting rid of our militants, which will lead to igniting an explosion in the West Bank."

Al-Qassam Brigades accused Abbas security forces of having been chasing Hamas militants in the city, adding "these forces arrested dozens of Hamas members and supporters within the last two weeks."

Meanwhile, Hamas in the Gaza Strip held President Abbas and his secular Fatah party completely responsible for what happened in Qalqilya and called for rallies and protests in the coastal enclave.

At least six Palestinians were killed in fierce clashes between Palestinian National Authority (PNA) security forces and Hamas armed men in Qalqilya early Sunday, witnesses and sources said.

The witnesses told Xinhua that three Palestinian security forces, two Hamas militants and the owner of the building where the Hamas gunmen returned to, were killed in the gun battle.

Security sources said the troubles started shortly before midnight when two gunmen fired at Palestinian forces, escaped to a building and refused to surrender.

A joint force from pro-Abbas apparatuses was called and the armed clashes lasted until dawn. The PNA troops entered the building in the morning hours after it made sure the militants were killed.

Earlier, Hamas' al-Aqsa satellite channel, based in Gaza, reported that the Palestinian forces were trying to arrest two members of the movement's military wing in the West Bank and called on the Palestinian people to take to the streets in protests.

Sunday's clashes were the deadliest between Hamas and pro-Abbas forces in the West Bank since Hamas took over control of the Gaza Strip in 2007.

Abbas and his Fatah movement consolidated their rule in the West Bank after they lost Gaza in a weeklong deadly fighting. Hamas holds sway in the coastal Strip and Fatah accuses it of cracking down against Fatah supporters and members.

(Xinhua News Agency June 1, 2009)