This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/middle_east/6283769.stm

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 7 Version 8
Key Palestinian talks under way No agreement in Palestinian talks
(about 3 hours later)
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is holding talks in Syria with the exiled political leader of Hamas to try to end a violent power struggle. Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas' exiled political chief have failed to agree on forming a national unity government during talks in Syria.
It follows months of sporadic fighting between followers of Mr Abbas's Fatah party and supporters of the Hamas-led government in the Gaza Strip. They said talks on the issue would resume within two weeks and stressed the need to end factional fighting.
Mr Abbas has said he will call new elections if Hamas does not agree to form a government of national unity. The meeting between Mr Abbas and Khaled Meshaal came amid tensions between Fatah and Hamas, which are locked in a power struggle in the Gaza Strip.
It is the first time Mr Abbas and Khaled Meshaal have met since 2005. Mr Abbas has said he will call fresh elections unless a deal is reached.
After two days of deadlock and delays, the two men met in the Syrian capital, Damascus, where Mr Meshaal lives, on Sunday night. Hamas, which has been in power since last January, has said that would be tantamount to a coup.
At a news conference following three hours of talks in Damascus, Mr Abbas said his meeting with Mr Meshaal had been "fruitful".
'Need for dialogue'
In a joint statement, both men said efforts to form a national unity government had "covered a great distance" and negotiations would resume within two weeks.
"There are still points of disagreement between us but we will sort it through dialogue," Mr Meshaal said.
"We stress that dialogue is the only language allowed for solving our differences... It is not normal to fight."
It was the first time Mr Abbas and Mr Meshaal have met since 2005.
Hamas roundly defeated Fatah in parliamentary elections a year ago, but their victory prompted an international aid boycott which has crippled the Palestinian economy.Hamas roundly defeated Fatah in parliamentary elections a year ago, but their victory prompted an international aid boycott which has crippled the Palestinian economy.
The two groups have been trying for months to agree a unity government.
The BBC's Rachel Harvey in Damascus says although progress has been made on the composition of such a government, sources say there are still profound differences over what its attitude to Israel should be.
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.
Our correspondent says it may not be possible to bridge the gap in this one meeting.
But she adds the two men appear to have been persuaded that for Mr Abbas to leave Syria without them talking at all would have sent a dangerously negative message to the Palestinian people and the wider world.
Election threat
Mr Abbas last month threatened to call 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.
Mr Abbas has already held talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad which Mr Abbas's spokesman Nabil Amir described as "frank" and "amicable".
Palestinian legislator Nabil Amr said Mr Assad expressed willingness to back all "efforts aimed at achieving Palestinian unity".