Abbas intends to resume talks on forming national coalition: report

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is contemplating resumption of talks on national unity government rather than holding early elections in a bid to avoid civil war, Palestinian local Sama news agency reported on Tuesday.

The report said that Abbas' new approach came after a wave of factional infighting in the wake of his early elections call in last month.

Factional feud remain high in the Palestinian territories, especially in Gaza Strip where militants of the governing Hamas and Abbas' Fatah traded kidnappings.

The report quoted unnamed sources close to Abbas as saying that Abbas changed his mind as Arab leaders called on him to return to dialogue table to cease the unexpected violence in the Palestinian territories.

Abbas called for early elections last month after factions failed to form a new coalition government capable of lifting international siege imposed on the Hamas-led government.

However, against his will, the call did not help stop the power struggle between Hamas and his Fatah but triggered street violence as Hamas considered the call as a coup against its government.

Source: Xinhua