Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas spoke by telephone with Hamas' exiled leader Khaled Mashaal on Thursday, resuming talks on forming a national unity government, a Fatah official said.

Nabil Abu Rudeina, top aide of President Abbas, told reporters that Abbas and Mashaal made a good conversation over forming a national unity government, although no agreement was reached during the telephone talks.

"The discussion is encouraging and reflects the positive spirit prevailing in Gaza in talks on forming the unity government," Abu Rudeina said.

The telephone conversation came a day after Hamas announced suspension of talks on unity government in the wake of a deadly Israeli artillery bombardment on northern Gaza town of Beit Hanoun, which claimed lives of 18 Palestinian civilians.

Source: Xinhua