Hamas dismisses Abbas' call for continued talks
Published today (updated) 17/08/2009 12:44
www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=219640

Gaza - Ma'an - Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum on Monday dismissed President
Mahmoud Abbas' call for unity talks on Sunday during Fatah Central Committee
and Revolutionary Council meeting.

"Abbas' comments about dialogue are meaningless when the Palestinian
Authority's security forces continue to detain Hamas supporters in the West
Bank," Barhoum said.

President Mahmoud Abbas said on Sunday that unity talks between Fatah and
Hamas would continue despite an apparent scheduling conflict. A session of
the Palestinian National Council is scheduled for the same day.

Barhoum said that Abbas should lay the ground for a successful dialogue,
reiterating Hamas' stance that an agreement be signed on 25 August rather
than indefinitely into the future.

Barhoum also called on Egyptian mediators to try and push past obstacles
impeding a successful dialogue, and secure the release of all political
detainees held in the West Bank.

With regard to the newly elected Fatah leadership, Barhoum said, "They are
facing three tests; the Palestinian dialogue, adopting resistance instead of
negotiations with Israel, and protecting inalienable Palestinian rights."

He said Hamas wants to see more action, and less talk.

In a speech in Ramallah on Sunday, Abbas said that the PLO's decision to
hold a meeting of the PNC on 26 and 27 August would not stop the unity
talks, which were scheduled for the 25th.

Abbas said the PNC meeting "will not change our view of the Palestinian
national dialogue, because we are determined to continue this dialogue."

The president did not say whether the dialogue would be rescheduled. But he
did say that he had received a letter from Egypt regarding the continuation
of talks, but did not divulge its contents.