Abbas-Meshaal talks postponed

[oberliner]

A meeting scheduled between Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, and Khalid Meshaal, head of the ruling Hamas party, has been postponed, according to a senior Palestinian official.

The two were to meet on Saturday in the Syrian capital Damascus. But the Palestinian official said "there will be no meeting today".

"There are difficulties facing such a meeting and there are current mediations to try and resolve the problems," the Palestinian official said, without giving further details.

The official said it was possible that the meeting would be held Sunday.

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/124BD784-77DC-4B76-B219-2185A7E00F70.htm

[Eugene]

1. Syria trying to ensure Abbas-Meshaal meeting-Hamas (Reuters)

Syria trying to ensure Abbas-Meshaal meeting-Hamas
21 Jan 2007 10:49:31 GMT
Source: Reuters

DAMASCUS, Jan 21 (Reuters) - Syria is trying to ensure that Palestinian President
Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal meet in Damascus on Sunday,
a senior Hamas official said.

"We are seeing Syrian efforts at the highest level to convene this meeting," Hamas
politburo member Izzat al-Rishq said. "Syrian officials are doing their best to bring
the views of both sides closer."

Syrian Vice-President Farouq al-Shara held separate talks with Abbas and Meshaal
on Sunday, witnesses said. A meeting scheduled for late on Saturday was postponed
after officials failed to reconcile differences over a unity government and how it
would deal with Western demands.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L21732134.htm

[oberliner]

2. Update: Palestinian leaders Abbas and Meshaal begin talks

DAMASCUS, Jan 21 (Reuters) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal began talks in Damascus on Sunday to try to ease the Palestinian political crisis and internecine fighting, aides to the two politicians said.

A meeting scheduled for late on Saturday was postponed after officials failed to reconcile differences over the new government and how it would deal with Western demands.

Izzat al-Rishq, a senior Hamas official, told Reuters the group did not expect Sunday's talks to result in an agreement on a unity government.

"The main difference on the government's manifesto persists. The meeting will convene to affirm that the two sides are committed to continue dialogue and reject the use of violence and spilling of Palestinian blood," Rishq said.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L21659819.htm