Hamas' political head in Egypt to discuss Palestinian unity

Jun 9, 2009, 10:58 GMT

Cairo - Hamas' political leader Khaled Meshaal was in Cairo on Tuesday for talks with Egyptian officials on the chances of resuming Palestinian talks aimed at achieving unity, diplomatic sources told the German Press Agency dpa.

The source told dpa that the Damascus-based Meshaal, who was accompanied by a delegation of senior officials of the Islamist movement that controls the Gaza Strip, would meet Egypt's intelligence chief Omar Suleiman on Tuesday.

Meshaal's visit follows armed clashes between forces from Hamas and its rival Fatah in the West Bank city of Qalaqilya last week. At the time, Hamas threatened to suspend its participation in the Egyptian-mediated talks.

At least two Hamas militants, as well as three security officers from the West Bank-based Fatah and a civilian were killed in two separate clashes.

Egypt has been mediating in talks between the rival movements aimed at ironing out differences on substantial issues related to the formation of a unity government.

A fourth round of talks in Cairo ended in late April with no real breakthrough. Cairo held separate talks with Fatah leaders on Sunday.