Hamas accepts Egyptian offer to talk with fatah

Source: CCTV.com | 01-29-2007 14:48

Saudi Arabia has invited feuding Palestinian factions for urgent talks in Mecca to try to end the fiercest internal fighting since Hamas' election victory one year ago.

Both sides have agreed to attend the meeting but no date has yet been set. In the meantime, Egyptian security officials are exerting efforts to restore calm in Palestinian territories as bloodshed continues.

The Hamas-led government has expressed its thanks to Saudi Arabia's initiation.

Fawzi Barhou, Hamas spokesman, said, "We appreciate this type of support and we're looking for more and more support from Saudi Arabia and from any Arabic country towards our Palestinian rights."

Meanwhile in Gaza, Palestinian government officials and Egyptian security delegation met to discuss how to end spiraling violence in Gaza and the West Bank.

Ghazi Hamad, Palestinian government spokesman, said, "This delegation had a message from the minister Omar Suliman directed to the Prime Minister and also to different parts of the Palestinian territories. It focused on taking out of all the people who are carrying weapons from the Palestinian streets and removing all the checkpoints from the streets here in Gaza and also to release all the kidnapped people."

Over 50 Palestinians have been killed in the bloodshed that erupted after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called last month for early presidential and parliamentary elections.

Editor:Du Xiaodan