Report: Syria vetoes summit against peace conference
Damascus tells Palestinian factions opposed to Abbas it will not let them hold summit aimed at undermining PLO's rule in country during Annapolis conference
Syria has informed the Palestinian Authority it has cancelled a planned summit of the Palestinian factions that was scheduled to take place in Damascus parallel to the Annapolis peace conference, Palestinian news agency Sama reported Saturday.
The report has not been confirmed by the PA or Hamas.
The Damascus summit was meant to bring together opponents of PA President Mahmoud Abbas and his policy, and some of its participants were planning on electing an alternative Palestinian leadership during the event.
According to Sama, Syria has made it clear to the PA that it would not allow any attempt to undermine Abbas and the PLO's authority as sole representatives of the Palestinian people.
The event was originally set to take place in the Syrian capital next week, and host members of Hamas, Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, the Popular Front and other groups.
However, the factions announced this week that the summit would be postponed and held at the same time as the Annapolis conference.
