Hamas and Fatah leaders hold talks, making effort to reach agreement

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Source: CCTV.com | 02-06-2007 09:24

Palestinian President, Mahmoud Abbas, and Prime Minister, Ismail Haneya, are set to meet in Mecca on Tuesday. They'll be joined by exiled Hamas politburo chief, Khaled Mashaal in a fresh bid to forge a coalition government, and put an end to factional fighting.

Talks this time are brokered by Saudi Arabia. Hamas leader, Haneya, and exiled Hamas politburo chief, Meshaal, will hold talks in Mecca. They will be trying to overcome differences with an Abbas-led Fatah delegation and finally form a National Unity government.

Ismail Haneya, Palestinian PM, said, "We confirm that we are going to Mecca, the holy city, with true intentions to reach a Palestinian-Palestinian agreement. We will end the ongoing crisis, and reinforce national unity when we form a coalition government."

Haneya said a ceasefire deal between the rival forces of Hamas and Fatah was taking hold, and he hoped it would last.

Earlier in the Gaza Strip, Hamas and Fatah members conducted joint patrols to ensure their gunmen had left the streets and removed checkpoints as required by the ceasefire's midnight deadline.

Meanwhile, Palestinian students held a rally on Monday to support Hamas. This follows a Fatah raid last week which resulted in damage to the Islamic university in Gaza.

Editor:Du Xiaodan