Mashaal denies hitch in truce talks
According to Hizbullah-affiliated television, quoting al Jazeera, Hamas chief claims Israel-Hamas truce on track for completion by Sunday
Hamas politiburo chief Khaled Mashaal denied French media reports that there were complications that may keep Egypt from announcing a Gaza truce deal on Sunday, Arab media reported Saturday.
According to the Hizbullah-affiliated al-Manar agency in its website, the Hamas leader claimed in an interview with al-Jazeera that the deal between Israel and the Islamic group controlling the Gaza Strip will be signed Sunday in Cairo as planned, contrary to Associated French Press reports.
He also said progress has also been made on the course of reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah movements, the report stated.
The AFP reported Friday that the Damascus-based Hamas leader, who had just arrived in the Qatari capital after a mini-tour of regional states deemed sympathetic to his organization, said that the Egyptian mediators had mentioned a 'glitch' in truce negotiations.
He added that the sides were discussing the problem but that he did not believe that the original timetable would be adhered to.
Mashaal's number two Moussa Abu Marzouk had told the Egyptian state news agency MENA late on Thursday that the mediators would announce an agreement on an 18-month truce within 48 hours after Hamas gave it its endorsement.
Abu Marzouk also said kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit would not be included in the agreement. "This is a separate issue and has no bearing on the ceasefire," he said.
