Palestinians 'to hold new talks'

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/7961787.stm

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Reconciliation talks between the rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah will resume in Egypt on 1 April, a senior Fatah official has said.

Nabil Shaath, a key aide to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, said both sides would try very hard to agree on forming a national unity government.

The first round of talks ended without any deal last week.

They foundered on disagreements over how Hamas and Fatah would share power and how they would deal with Israel.

The largely secular Fatah runs Palestinian affairs in the West Bank while Hamas, an Islamist organisation, seized the Gaza Strip nearly two years ago.

Hamas official Ayman Taha said the group was determined to ensure the talks succeeded but he rejected Fatah demands for it to abide by existing peace agreements with Israel.

"Abiding by peace agreements means the recognition of Israel and that is completely rejected," he was quoted as saying by Reuters news agency.

The US, EU and UN will not deal with Hamas unless it rejects violence and recognises Israel.