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Hamas leader in talks over Fatah Hamas leader in talks over Fatah
(about 8 hours later)
The leader of the Palestinian faction Hamas has visited Egypt for talks with mediators brokering a reconciliation with political rivals Fatah.The leader of the Palestinian faction Hamas has visited Egypt for talks with mediators brokering a reconciliation with political rivals Fatah.
Khaled Meshaal travelled from Syria - where he lives in exile - for the talks with Egyptian intelligence officials.Khaled Meshaal travelled from Syria - where he lives in exile - for the talks with Egyptian intelligence officials.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who leads Fatah, was also in Cairo.Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who leads Fatah, was also in Cairo.
The visit has also fuelled speculation of a possible Israel-Hamas prisoner swap, which would include captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.The visit has also fuelled speculation of a possible Israel-Hamas prisoner swap, which would include captured Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit.
The BBC's Yolande Knell, in Cairo, says Khaled Meshaal arrived with a top-level Hamas delegation for the meeting with Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman.The BBC's Yolande Knell, in Cairo, says Khaled Meshaal arrived with a top-level Hamas delegation for the meeting with Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman.
The meeting comes ahead of a new round of talks with the Fatah movement on forming a Palestinian unity government due to begin later this month. The meeting comes ahead of a new round of talks, due to begin later this month, with the Fatah movement on forming a Palestinian unity government.
There has been a consensus on the necessity of moving forward with the option of reconciliation as the only path available Khaled MeshaalHamas leader Fatah: A new beginning?
Hamas and Fatah have been in dispute since a split ended in Hamas violently seizing control of the Gaza Strip in May 2007.Hamas and Fatah have been in dispute since a split ended in Hamas violently seizing control of the Gaza Strip in May 2007.
Egyptian officials have long served as mediators and in recent weeks, German diplomats have joined negotiations.Egyptian officials have long served as mediators and in recent weeks, German diplomats have joined negotiations.
Shalit discussed Mr Meshaal told a news conference in Cairo: "There has been a consensus on the necessity of moving forward with the option of reconciliation as the only path available.
"No [Palestinian] presidential and legislative elections can be held except within a context of agreement and reconciliation and the rejection of any suggestions for holding de facto elections, which would, in actual fact lead to the exclusion of Gaza and confine elections to the West Bank."
Prisoner issue
The mediators have also tried to broker a prisoner-swap between Israel and Hamas that would include Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, seized in a Palestinian raid in June 2006.The mediators have also tried to broker a prisoner-swap between Israel and Hamas that would include Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, seized in a Palestinian raid in June 2006.
"Concerning Shalit, as you know there is some development as a result of the German mediation bid in co-ordination with Egypt," Mr Meshaal said in a joint news conference in Cairo with Arab League chief Amr Mussa. "Concerning Shalit, as you know there is some development as a result of the German mediation bid in co-ordination with Egypt," said Mr Meshaal, who was joined in the Egyptian capital by Arab League chief Amr Mussa.
"But we are in the early stages. We have not discussed any (Palestinian) names nor any details." "But we are in the early stages. We have not discussed any [Palestinian] names nor any details."
An Egyptian official was quoted by the state-run news agency Mena as saying that the topic of prisoners "was one of the main subjects raised during the session".An Egyptian official was quoted by the state-run news agency Mena as saying that the topic of prisoners "was one of the main subjects raised during the session".
"Finding a solution to this topic will have a major impact on the other questions, such as lifting the (Gaza Strip) blockade and the permanent opening of the crossing points," he said. "Finding a solution to this topic will have a major impact on the other questions, such as lifting the [Gaza Strip] blockade and the permanent opening of the crossing points," he said.