PPP: Fatah, Hamas achieve progress in Cairo talks
Date: 30 / 06 / 2009 Time: 10:39
www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=38913

Nablus - Ma'an - Bilateral dialogue between Hamas and Fatah in Cairo has
achieved progress on most issues, according to Walid Al-Awad, an official in
the Palestinian People's Party.

Al-Awad told Sawt An-Najah (Voice of Success) radio in the West Bank city of
Nablus that the rival Palestinian factions had agreed on an electoral
formula of 75% proportional representation system and 25% constituencies. He
said however that a disagreement remains regarding the distribution of
electoral constituencies. He said Fatah had suggested four districts in the
West Bank, three in Gaza.

They also agreed on the joint security force of between 3,000 and 5,000
officers, he said. According to Al-Awad, the negotiators also agreed on a
committee which will be formed in the place of a national consensus
government, and that the Egyptians determined on Monday the committee's
tasks.

Both sides also agreed to release political detainees before 5 July, and
then further steps will be announced.

Egypt has set a 7 July deadline for the Hamas-Fatah talks.