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Hamas chief Meshaal in Egypt for crisis talks Hamas 'will not obstruct' 1967 borders deal
(1 day later)
Khaled Meshaal, the leader-in-exile of Palestinian militant group Hamas, has been having talks in Cairo with Egypt's intelligence chief Omar Suleiman. Hamas will not obstruct any political movement towards establishing a Palestinian state on 1967 borders, says its exiled leader, Khaled Meshaal.
The visit is aimed at stopping a crisis brewing in the West Bank between the rival factions of Hamas and Fatah. At a press conference given at the end of Palestinian crisis talks in Egypt, Mr Meshaal said that the meeting had been important and fruitful.
Mr Meshaal reflected on President Obama's recent speeches on the Middle East calling his tone "encouraging".
He warned that "the main obstacle is what is happening in the West Bank".
Egypt has been hosting separate meetings with representatives of Hamas and Fatah to try and stem a growing crisis between the two factions.
Raids in the city of Qalqilya last week left nine people dead and put months of mediation work by Cairo in jeopardy.Raids in the city of Qalqilya last week left nine people dead and put months of mediation work by Cairo in jeopardy.
On Sunday, Egyptian officials met leaders of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah group. On Sunday, Egyptian officials met leaders of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah group while Mr Meshaal met with Egypt's intelligence chief Omar Suleiman on Tuesday.
Hamas spokesman Taher al-Nono said the rare visit by Mr Meshaal would focus on the repercussions of the West Bank raids and hoped Egypt would help "compel the Palestinian Authority to stop the assaults against our people in the West Bank". At the press conference that followed further talks with the leader of the Arab League, Amr Moussa, Mr Meshaal condemned the situation in the West Bank.
The two deadly raids by Palestinian Authority forces in the West Bank last week were part of a continuing crackdown on the residents who are alleged to have links with Hamas. At the meeting, Amr Moussa (R) said he believed progress is possible.
The incidents resulted in casualties on both sides and have stoked fears of a wider crisis developing. "The resistance is persecuted and incriminated, and mujahidin are being killed," he said.
Fatah has accused Hamas of detaining hundreds of its supporters in Gaza in reprisal arrests in recent days. But he said that at the talks Hamas and Egypt had agreed on steps to end this situation in order to reach reconciliation which he said had so far been hampered by foreign pressure.
On Tuesday, police arrested six Hamas members who were suspected of planning acts against the Palestinian Authority. The encouraging words of the new US administration on reaching a settlement needed to be translated into actions and, he said, Hamas now expected true pressure to be put on the Israelis.
Palestinian officials say that more than $1.5m were seized during the arrest of the group that included two women.
Hamas confirmed that its members had been detained, and accused the Palestinian Authority of colluding with Israel to "wipe it out".
Egyptian mediators had set a 7 July deadline for differences to be overcome, in the hopes of ultimately creating a unity government that would allow elections to be held next year.