Last update - 00:00 09/08/2007
Abbas reiterates to Jordanian PM refusal to talk with Hamas
By News Agencies
Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday reiterated he would not negotiate with Hamas and denied reports he was involved in any kinds of talks with the militant group, Jordan's official Petra news agency said.
Abbas' comments followed talks in Amman with Jordanian Prime Minister Marouf al-Bakhit and Foreign Minister Abdul-Ilah al-Khatib, as part of a flurry of regional meetings ahead of a U.S.-sponsored Mideast peace conference expected this fall.
"We maintain our position which says [that] if Hamas retracts from what it committed in Gaza, then we will see how we handle the situation," Abbas said, referring to Hamas' violent takeover of the Gaza Strip in mid-June.
In June, Hamas fighters routed Gaza forces loyal to the Western-backed, secular Fatah faction of Abbas, who responded by dismissing the Hamas-led cabinet and forming a new government in the West Bank. Abbas has described the takeover as disastrous.
Hamas has said it does not want to rule Gaza on its own, calling for a dialogue with Fatah to form a new unity government and restructure the Palestinian security forces, which are dominated by Abbas' faction.
In Jordan on Thursday, Abbas briefed al-Bakhit on his recent meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in the West Bank town of Jericho. At the meeting, Olmert said he hoped to launch negotiations soon on establishing a Palestinian state.
The U.S.-proposed Mideast conference is part of efforts to push forward the stalled peace process between Israel and Abbas and also isolate Hamas - which has dismissed the conference.
Yemen offers to mediate between rivals Fatah, Hamas
Meanwhile, Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh offered to mediate between Hamas and Fatah, according a report Thursday by the official Yemeni news agency Saba, following a visit to Yemen by Hamas leader Khaled Meshal.
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh told Abbas by telephone that "Hamas has accepted the Yemeni initiative and hopes that all Palestinian brothers would agree on what serves their national interest" Saba reported.
Saleh was speaking after holding talks with visiting Hamas political leader Khaled Meshal. During their meeting, Saleh told Meshal that Yemen "was keen to see Palestinians close ranks and act as one."
Abbas has said he would only accept any push for rapprochement with Islamist group Hamas if it relinquishes control over the Gaza Strip.
The new Palestinian prime minister, Salam Fayad, has said that Hamas must accept his government's authority before Fatah would consider calls for negotiations.