More news from the people who, according to Condoleeza Rice, earnestly desire peace. From [1] Agence France-Presse, with thanks to JE:

PALESTINIAN security officials are claiming that Hamas militants planned to assassinate Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas with explosives, as deadly factional fighting resumed in Gaza.

The claims were made hours after Mr Abbas called off a trip to Gaza for talks aimed at reaching a definitive ceasefire between fighters from his Fatah party and Hamas that has left nearly 50 people dead and 100 wounded since Sunday.

"Abu Mazen's (Abbas's) visit to Gaza was cancelled after the discovery of a tunnel under Salaheddine Road full of explosives placed by the Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades to blow up (his) convoy,'' said a senior security official, referring to Hamas's military wing.

"The explosives were found on the route that Abu Mazen takes to travel to Gaza,'' the source added, speaking from the Palestinian political capital of Ramallah in the West Bank.

An official in Abbas's office confirmed the report but Abu Obeida, spokesman for the Hamas armed wing, said, "these reports are aimed at poisoning the atmosphere in Gaza. We deny them completely.''

Not that the atmosphere in Gaza was poisoned before this. Oh, no. It was all peace and tolerance.