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Hamas, Fatah deny agreeing on dialogue resumption
10/12/2007 9:54

Officials of rival Islamic Hamas and Fatah movements yesterday denied reaching any agreement on resuming dialogue to end an internal Palestinian crisis lasted for several months.

Sami Abu Zuhri, Hamas spokesman in Gaza denied earlier reports saying there is a joint document of understanding reached between the two movements to resume the dialogue.

Dialogue between the two rival movements stopped when Hamas militants ousted President Mahmoud Abbas' security forces in Gaza Strip and took control of the enclave in mid June.

"Basically, a dialogue with Fatah hasn't even started, so how can we agree on such a document," Abu Zuhri said. "The whole issue is related to meetings held with Hamas leaders in the West Bank to approximate viewpoints."

Earlier Sunday, prominent Hamas leader in the West Bank Hassan Abu Kwaik said that Hamas and Fatah leaders had agreed on a joint document of understanding "could be a good base for a breakthrough in the dialogue."

However, Ahmed Abdel Rahman, an aide to President Mahmoud Abbas and spokesman of Fatah movement denied that a dialogue between the two movements had begun.

"There will be no dialogue with Hamas movement until it ends its black coup in the Gaza Strip against the legitimate Palestinian leadership and handover Gaza Strip it took over in mid June," said Abdel Rahman.



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