Hamas, Fatah Try to Seal Reconciliation in Cairo
Rival Palestinian groups Fatah and Hamas opened talks Sunday in Egypt aimed at implementing a reconciliation agreement struck in May, state news agency MENA reported.
The two sides held consultations late Saturday in the presence of Egyptian intelligence officials, the agency said, adding Fatah's delegation is led by Azzam al-Ahmed and Hamas by Moussa Abu Marzouq.
Fatah official Sakhr Bssisso said the talks would focus on "mechanisms of implementing the reconciliation deal," in all its aspects, including the formation of a new government -- one of the main hurdles delaying the deal.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zahri told Agence France Presse on Saturday that his group was "serious in wanting to implement the agreement as soon as possible".
But he added there were some hurdles, namely Fatah's insistence to keep Salam Fayyad at the head of the government.
Meanwhile Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas reiterated his call for a government of independents, following talks in Amman with Jordan's King Abdullah II.
"We have said more than once the Palestinian government that we want to form is not a national unity or coalition government," Abbas was quoted as saying by Jordan's state-run news agency Petra.
"We seek a government of independents, transitional government," said Abbas, who discussed Palestinian reconciliation with the king, according to Petra.
In early May Fatah and Hamas signed a unity deal in Cairo and have met twice since to discuss the formation of an interim government.
However follow-up talks between Abbas and Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal have been put on hold.
The talks reportedly stalled over disagreement about which side should get the post of prime minister. Abbas and his Fatah movement want to keep Fayyad on as premier, despite strong objections from Hamas.
Fatah has officially announced its support for Fayyad as prime minister of an government composed of independents, which must organize elections by May 2012, but Hamas has rejected his candidacy, saying it wants somebody from Gaza.
Source: Agence France Presse
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