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Palestinians set for Mecca talks Palestinian heads meet Saudi king
(about 7 hours later)
Palestinian leaders whose factions have engaged in deadly battles are preparing for talks in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, seen as a last chance to avoid civil war. Leaders of the rival Palestinian factions have met separately with Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah ahead of crisis talks aimed at ending clashes in Gaza.
Hopes are high the meeting between PM Ismail Haniya and President Mahmoud Abbas may lead to a unity government and revitalise peace moves with Israel. Wednesday's talks in Mecca are seen as a last chance to agree on a government of national unity and avoid civil war.
Mr Haniya's Hamas and Mr Abbas's Fatah factions have been locked in a bitter power struggle over the last year. Fatah leader and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will meet Hamas's supreme leader Khaled Meshaal to try to resolve their factions' power struggle.
About 60 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip in the last two weeks. More than 20 people died in clashes between the two sides last week.
There may be obstacles but we confirm that we are going with true intentions to reach a Palestinian-Palestinian agreement Ismail Haniya class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6334315.stm">Press holds breath However, a shaky ceasefire has been holding since Saturday, after the latest round of violence flared last week. Palestinians hope that a coalition administration will end the gun battles in the streets, present a more united front to Israel and encourage the big powers to lift devastating financial sanctions, says the BBC's Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen.
And the signals emerging from both camps ahead of Wednesday's talks have been distinctly positive, says the BBC's Alan Johnston in Gaza. Western boycott
There is talk of progress having been made in the run-up to the meeting, with both sides saying they are hopeful a deal will bring them together in unity government. It is hoped the influence of King Abdullah and the atmosphere of Islam's holiest city will help the two sides reach a deal.
Delegations from Fatah and Hamas both arrived in Jeddah on Tuesday and separately met their host King Abdullah before holding preliminary talks together. The biggest sticking points have been disputes over how Fatah and Hamas split the top jobs - and the issue of recognising Israel, says Jeremy Bowen.
On Wednesday they will be joined by other senior officials and move to a royal palace in Mecca to begin the talks in earnest. The two sides have been locked in a bitter power struggle since Hamas won legislative elections last year.
Hamas has so far refused to recognise Israel, renounce violence or honour previous agreements - all preconditions to end the Western aid boycott of the Hamas government.
Months of on-and-off talks between Hamas and Fatah have yielded few results.
We are going with true intentions to reach a Palestinian-Palestinian agreement that would end tensions and reinforce national unity Ismail HaniyaPalestinian prime minister Press holds breath
Clashes between armed supporters of the two groups killed at least 80 people since December.
However, a shaky ceasefire has been holding since Saturday, after the latest round of violence flared last week.
Both sides have made encouraging statements ahead of Wednesday's talks in Mecca.
An adviser to Mr Abbas, Nabil Shaath, told French news agency AFP that the "points of differences" between the two sides had lessened.
The influence of King Abdullah (r) may help broker a deal"Hamas will come into the meeting with new ideas which will perhaps be accepted on a commitment (to respecting) international and Arab accords as well as on the post of interior minister," he said.
Before leaving for Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, Prime Minister Haniya said "we are going with true intentions to reach a Palestinian-Palestinian agreement that would end tensions and reinforce national unity".
Separately, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said he will meet Mr Abbas and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on 19 February.Separately, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said he will meet Mr Abbas and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on 19 February.
The summit was proposed by Ms Rice during her recent visit to the Middle East aimed at reviving peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.The summit was proposed by Ms Rice during her recent visit to the Middle East aimed at reviving peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
Mr Olmert said he hoped Mr Abbas would not forge a unity government with Hamas that stopped short of meeting Western demands to recognise Israel and renounce violence.
Saudi motives
Hamas has so far refused to recognise Israel or renounce violence - both preconditions to end a crippling Western aid boycott of the Hamas government.
Replacing the current Hamas-led government with a more moderate coalition might enable the Palestinians to re-engage more fully with the West, says our correspondent.
"There may be obstacles but we confirm that we are going with true intentions to reach a Palestinian-Palestinian agreement that would end tensions and reinforce national unity," said Mr Haniya.
Earlier Hamas-Fatah meetings - brokered by other Arab countries, Egypt, Syria and Qatar - have been preceded by equally optimistic words, but have led to nothing.
Hamas gunmen have been involved in fierce clashes with Fatah rivalsBut there is a feeling that this time could be different, our correspondent says.
There is huge domestic and international pressure on the two parties for a breakthrough, and the talks are being held in the auspicious surroundings of Islam's most holy city.
The mediating will be done by Saudi Arabia, which has significant political and financial clout.
Saudi Arabia also has its own motives for seeking a solution to the crisis in Gaza, says the BBC's Middle East analyst Roger Hardy.Saudi Arabia also has its own motives for seeking a solution to the crisis in Gaza, says the BBC's Middle East analyst Roger Hardy.
Saudi leaders are deeply uneasy about the role of Iran in three of the region's main trouble spots - Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine, he says.Saudi leaders are deeply uneasy about the role of Iran in three of the region's main trouble spots - Iraq, Lebanon and Palestine, he says.
Saudi Arabia may have ambitions of filling a leadership vacuum in the Arab world, he says - though whether they are capable of doing so remains to be seen.Saudi Arabia may have ambitions of filling a leadership vacuum in the Arab world, he says - though whether they are capable of doing so remains to be seen.