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Push to revive Palestinian talks Abbas and Meshaal 'will not meet'
(about 2 hours later)
Rival Palestinian factions are hoping to kick-start talks between Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal. Talks between Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal will not take place, a Hamas official says.
They were due to meet on Saturday in Damascus in Syria, but the talks were postponed at the last minute. Talks due on Saturday in Damascus were postponed at the last minute.
It is thought both sides want to agree on a coalition government before the two men commit to a meeting. They were rescheduled for Sunday, but now senior Hamas official Moussa Abu Marzouk says the possibility of talks at this stage is "non-existent".
The two sides are locked in a violent dispute over control of the security forces and relations with Israel.The two sides are locked in a violent dispute over control of the security forces and relations with Israel.
Hamas, which won Palestinian elections a year ago and control the cabinet, and Fatah have tried but failed to agree a unity government for months.Hamas, which won Palestinian elections a year ago and control the cabinet, and Fatah have tried but failed to agree a unity government for months.
There are a lot of common issues that we must to talk about with our brothers here Mahmoud AbbasPalestinian Authority presidentThere are a lot of common issues that we must to talk about with our brothers here Mahmoud AbbasPalestinian Authority president
Fatah advocates negotiations with the Israelis on a future Palestinian state, while Hamas refuses to recognise Israel's right to exist.Fatah advocates negotiations with the Israelis on a future Palestinian state, while Hamas refuses to recognise Israel's right to exist.
"There are a lot of common issues that we must to talk about with our brothers here," Mr Abbas said, adding that he hoped to meet Mr Meshaal, who is the political head of Hamas and lives in exile in Damascus. "There are a lot of common issues that we must talk about with our brothers here," Mr Abbas had said earlier.
"Palestinian factions are here and certainly anyone who wants to meet us is welcomed. Why not, there is nothing stopping us.""Palestinian factions are here and certainly anyone who wants to meet us is welcomed. Why not, there is nothing stopping us."
But Hamas' Mr Marzouk said that despite the group's "flexibility", what he called "external factors" had caused the crisis.
Election threatElection threat
Mediation is under way to ensure the meeting between the two leaders can be held on Sunday, a Hamas official said.
The BBC's Rachel Harvey in Damascus says that both sides want the meeting to produces tangible results.
The Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniya, of Hamas, said a meeting would help "remove the fog of the bilateral relations".
Mr Abbas threatened in mid-December to hold fresh elections if a deal could not be reached. Hamas said that was tantamount to a coup.Mr Abbas threatened in mid-December to hold fresh elections if a deal could not be reached. Hamas said that was tantamount to a coup.
More than 30 Palestinians have been killed in factional violence since then.More than 30 Palestinians have been killed in factional violence since then.
Mr Abbas has already held talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad which were described as "frank" and "amicable".Mr Abbas has already held talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad which were described as "frank" and "amicable".
Mr Meshaal is the political head of Hamas and lives in exile in Damascus.
Palestinian legislator Nabil Amr said Mr Assad expressed willingness to back all "efforts aimed at achieving Palestinian unity".Palestinian legislator Nabil Amr said Mr Assad expressed willingness to back all "efforts aimed at achieving Palestinian unity".
Hamas's election victory prompted an international aid boycott last year, which has crippled the Palestinian economy.Hamas's election victory prompted an international aid boycott last year, which has crippled the Palestinian economy.