Gaza crisis fears for BBC reporter

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Despite a pledge from Hamas to secure the BBC correspondent's immediate release, British diplomats said they were "deeply worried" about his situation.

Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett also condemned the faction for carrying out a "coup" in Gaza - where a week of bloody fighting has seen them seize control from President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party.

She insisted Hamas should not be allowed to reap political benefits from their apparent victory.

"The notion that somehow mounting a coup d'etat is something that should be rewarded by the international community seems to me to be completely bizarre," Mrs Beckett told BBC Radio 4's World At One.

"However, there is no doubt that what will happen over the coming days is that people will have to consider what can be done, how we can work with the legitimate and legal Palestinian Authority to improve the position on the ground."

Mrs Beckett rejected claims that the international community was to blame for the violence, in which more than 100 people have died, because it has refused to deal with Hamas.

After dissolving the Hamas-led National Unity government and declaring a state of emergency, President Abbas appointed independent former finance minister Salam Fayyad as the new prime minister today.

A former World Bank executive, Mr Fayyad is a well-respected figure internationally.

But Ismail Haniya of Hamas has insisted he is still prime minister and vowed to disregard Mr Abbas's decisions.