Palestinian unity government talks hit new snag

Ramallah, West Bank: Renewed coalition negotiations between the rival Fatah and Hamas movements hit a new snag yesterday, people close to the negotiations said, raising the possibility of a new round of political violence.

In recent days, negotiators had reported significant progress in the talks, being held in the Syrian capital Damascus. But Fatah's chief negotiator left Damascus yesterday, and it was not clear whether a new round of talks would be held, the officials said.

Tensions have been high for the past year since Hamas defeated President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah movement in legislative elections. Abbas favours peace talks with Israel, while Hamas remains committed to Israel's destruction, despite an international boycott against the Hamas-led government.

Abbas has been pushing Hamas to join him in a more moderate coalition. Those talks broke down in November, leading to a month of political violence that killed 35 people in the Gaza.

The Damascus talks have been aimed at ending the infighting and renewing coalition talks.

In Gaza, Hamas spokes-man Esmail Radwan said the group remained committed to a negotiated solution. "We have not closed the door of discussions, but we don't know where it has reached," he said.

Meanwhile, an official said yesterday, Abbas will travel to Syria this week, but will not meet with the exiled leader of the rival Hamas movement there as first envisaged.

On a two-day trip beginning Saturday, Abbas will meet with Syrian President Bashar Al Assad and leaders of various Palestinian factions who are based in Syria, said the official in his office, speaking on condition of anonymity.

But contrary to speculation last week that Hamas and Fatah might be on the verge of a breakthrough on forming a government of national unity, he will not meet with Hamas chief Khalid Mesha'al, the official said.