Hamas accepts invitation to meet Fatah in Cairo

Group’s political leader Khaled Mashaal accepts Mubarak’s invitation to hold talks with rivaling faction in Egypt, says his movement will try to make dialogue with Fatah ‘a success.’ Fatah yet to confirm participation
Reuters

Hamas accepted on Friday an invitation by Egypt to hold talks with President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah faction in Cairo to solve the Palestinian schism.

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"I and all the brothers in the Hamas leadership welcome participating and will seek to make the dialogue a success," Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal told Reuters.

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, in an interview to be published on Saturday, invited the two sides to meet for talks in Cairo.

It was still unclear whether Fatah leader Abbas would agree to participate in the talks. In the past Abbas ha s stated he would not hold negotiations with Hamas until the group agrees to relinquish control over the Gaza Strip and hold new presidential and parliamentary elections.

Lately, Abbas also blamed Hamas for the difficult situation in Gaza, saying that Hamas’ takeover of the area has destroyed “our dreams, our future and our national aspirations.”

Mashaal, on his part, declared last month that he was willing to consider concessions in the Strip in a bid to reach reconciliation with Fatah.