Hamas ready to hand over all PA departments to President Abbas, except security, in the Gaza Strip, says Mesha'al

Editorial Note: The following news reports may be summaries from original sources. They may also include corrections of Arabic names and political terminology.

Date: 17 / 07 / 2007 Time: 11:55

Doha - Ma'an -

Khaled Mesha'al, head of Hamas' political bureau, said that his movement is ready to return control of Palestinian Authority departments in the Gaza Strip, except the security services, to President Mahmoud Abbas. He said "Hamas will not hand over the security departments before rebuilding and reforming them on a national criteria, [not] factionalism."

Speaking to the press in Doha, Qatar, Mesha'al said that "dialogue amongst Palestinian factions is critical to contain the recent crisis". He maintained that other Arab countries, such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia, also support inter-factional talks as a means of resolving the conflict.

Mesha'al reiterated Hamas' opposition to the resumption of security contacts between Israel and the Abbas' West Bank emergency government, a move he believes is designed to "disarm the resistance." Mesha'al said Hamas is making contacts with Arab states, stressing that his movement does not intend to create, as they have been accused, an "Islamic emirate" in the Gaza Strip.

Mesha'al warned that there are files which "when will be opened they will reveal the size of the crimes committed in the Gaza Strip by the security people."

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