A spokesman for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement described on Thursday as important development recent remarks by Hamas leaders who expressed readiness to accept a statehood alongside Israel.

The spokesman, Ahmed Abdel Rahman, told Voice of Palestine radio that the statements of Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mashaal and Prime Minister Ismail Haneya about a Palestinian statehood in the 1967 border were important steps.

However, Abdel Rahman reiterated that Hamas must commit itself with agreements signed by the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), especially those signed with Israel.

He also blamed Hamas on the impasse in the Palestinian territories. "Hamas has been driving the people from failure to failure since it took office."

Meanwhile, the Fatah spokesman called on Hamas to soften its demands in order to pave the way for national unity that leads to the formation of a unity government.

Abdel Rahman denied press reports that President Abbas has taken alternative measures instead of talks to form the unity government.

"The President supports a unity government with political program to ensure lift of siege and he will never change his stance in this regard," Abdel Rahman said.

Earlier in the day, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that talks to form a national unity government had reached a "dead end."

Source: Xinhua