Syrian involvement and pressure on Hamas leaders torpedoed a prisoner exchange for captured Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, Egyptian sources told the London-based Arabic-language newspaper Al Hayat on Sunday.

Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleyman met with exiled Hamas political leader Khaled Meshal on Saturday in Damascus. The two discussed the stalled negotiations on a prisoner swap involving Shalit, as well as the formation of Palestinian national unity government.

A Palestinian source told Al Hayat that Suleyman did not present them with any new ideas on the Shalit issue, but emphasized that the meeting was positive.

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According to Egyptian sources, Suleyman's visit focused on the Hamas' leadership request that Egypt renew its mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel on a Shalit prisoner exchange, and the possibility of renewed peace talks between Israel and Syria.

Hamas sources said Suleyman and Mashal also discussed ways for reducing the violence between Hamas and Fatah supporters that has plagued the Gaza Strip and parts of the West Bank in recent weeks.

The meeting is a sign of renewed Egyptian efforts to mediate between Hamas and Fatah, following a period of several weeks in which Suleyman avoided visiting Damascus.

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas will meet Fatah central committee members Monday in Jordan to discuss the failed efforts to form a unity government with Hamas, Israel Radio reported.