Lov3ll
01-20-2007, 01:08 PM
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is to hold talks on Saturday in Damascus with the political leader of rival Palestinian faction Hamas.
Mr Abbas has not met Khaled Meshaal, who lives in exile in Damascus, in person since 2005.
Hamas and Mr Abbas's Fatah faction have been in dispute since Hamas won polls a year ago. They have been trying to agree a unity government for months.
Mr Abbas has already held talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Key ministries
The BBC's Rachel Harvey in Damascus says that although the situation between Hamas and Fatah has been quieter in recent days, both sides know they need to reach some sort of sustainable deal soon.
The talks are likely to focus on who would control which ministries and what kind of policies a unity government might pursue, particularly in relation to Israel.
Fatah advocates negotiations to found a state alongside Israel, while Hamas refuses to recognise Israel's right to exist.
Mr Abbas threatened in mid-December to hold fresh elections if a deal could not be reached. Hamas said that was tantamount to a coup.
More than 30 Palestinians have been killed in factional violence since then.
Hamas politburo member Izzat al-Rishq told ******* news agency: "We are hoping [the talks] tonight will result in solving the issue of the final language of the manifesto and those in charge of three key ministries (interior, finance and foreign affairs).
"This is not a last chance meeting. Both sides are aware that prolonging crisis and confrontation only serves Israel."
Mr Abbas's talks with President Assad were described as "frank" and "amicable".
Palestinian legislator Nabil Amr said Mr Assad expressed willingness to back all "efforts aimed at achieving Palestinian unity".
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/6282867.stm
Mr Abbas has not met Khaled Meshaal, who lives in exile in Damascus, in person since 2005.
Hamas and Mr Abbas's Fatah faction have been in dispute since Hamas won polls a year ago. They have been trying to agree a unity government for months.
Mr Abbas has already held talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Key ministries
The BBC's Rachel Harvey in Damascus says that although the situation between Hamas and Fatah has been quieter in recent days, both sides know they need to reach some sort of sustainable deal soon.
The talks are likely to focus on who would control which ministries and what kind of policies a unity government might pursue, particularly in relation to Israel.
Fatah advocates negotiations to found a state alongside Israel, while Hamas refuses to recognise Israel's right to exist.
Mr Abbas threatened in mid-December to hold fresh elections if a deal could not be reached. Hamas said that was tantamount to a coup.
More than 30 Palestinians have been killed in factional violence since then.
Hamas politburo member Izzat al-Rishq told ******* news agency: "We are hoping [the talks] tonight will result in solving the issue of the final language of the manifesto and those in charge of three key ministries (interior, finance and foreign affairs).
"This is not a last chance meeting. Both sides are aware that prolonging crisis and confrontation only serves Israel."
Mr Abbas's talks with President Assad were described as "frank" and "amicable".
Palestinian legislator Nabil Amr said Mr Assad expressed willingness to back all "efforts aimed at achieving Palestinian unity".
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/6282867.stm