By RIA Novosti
Gaza : Clashes have erupted for the first time Monday between Palestinian Islamic movements, Hamas and its former ally the Army of Islam, reportedly holding hostage a BBC reporter.
Hamas, which promised to secure the release of Alan Johnston, arrested a leader of the Army of Islam, Khattab al-Makdusi, early Monday in Gaza after his supporters opened fire at the local "police," the Palestinian Maan news agency said.
In response, the Army of Islam took 10 Hamas students hostage.
After Hamas seized control of Gaza in June amid clashes with the Fatah movement, it promised to release the British journalist abducted on March 12.
Until now, Hamas avoided any armed confrontation with the Army of Islam for fear of harming the journalist.
Hamas, meanwhile, denied any connection between the current fighting and attempts to free the British correspondent.
The Army of Islam, mostly consisting of the influential Gaza clan Dughmush, said they would release Johnston in exchange for two of their members, under arrest in Britain and Jordan over their alleged connection with al-Qaeda.
The Maan news agency said the Army of Islam, formed in 2006, had conducted joint military operations with Hamas. It was said to be involved in the abduction of Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit last June, but later shifted the blame to Hamas.