London - British Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett has denounced fighting between rival Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip as 'senseless' and said Britain was continuing to press for the release of BBC correspondent Alan Johnston, abducted in Gaza City three months ago.

In a statement released late on Wednesday, Beckett called the fighting a 'tragedy' and said she would be speaking to President Mahmoud Abbas, as well as the governments in Egypt and Saudi-Arabia, to explore ways to resolve the crisis.

'This fighting is a tragedy. It puts civilians at risk...It makes it harder for the international community to extend assistance to the people of the Occupied Palestinian Territories,' she said.

Amid the fierce fighting, Beckett said she was still pressing the Palestinian National Authority to continue its efforts to ensure the release of Johnston, captured in Gaza City on March 12.

(12:48P) (09:48GMT)