Saudi Arabian King Abdullah Bin Abdel-Aziz on Tuesday received separately the Fatah delegation led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the Hamas delegation, ahead of their talks scheduled on Wednesday.

King Abdullah first received Abbas and his Fatah movement delegation that arrived earlier the day in Saudi Arabia, two hours before he met with Hamas delegation.

In addition to President Abbas, Fatah delegation included senior leaders Rawhi Fattouh, Brig. Gen. Nasser Yousef, legislature Mohamed Dahlan, head of Fatah bloc Azzam el-Ahmad and Nabil Amro, Abbas' media advisor.

Hamas delegation is headed by Khaled Mashaal, Hamas politburo chief, Ismail Haneya, Prime Minister of Hamas-led government, Foreign Minister Mahmoud Al-Zahar, the government spokesman Ghazi Hamad and others.

Ghazi Hamad, the government spokesman said in a press statement that King Abdullah met with Hamas delegation right after they arrived in the Red Sea city of Jeddah.

Hamad said that sessions of dialogue would start in the holy city of Mecca on Wednesday, adding that Tuesday's meetings were just ceremonial and a declaration of the start of the dialogue.

He said that King Abdullah reiterated to Hamas delegation that it is necessary for both parties to end their differences and reach an agreement on all the pending issues.

"King Abdullah told our delegation that the inter-Palestinian fighting would severely harm the Palestinian cause," said Hamad, adding "The King promised that his country would offer the help needed to reach an agreement."

The Saudi King also said that the eyes of the Arab and Islamic worlds are watching the two sides, "and are waiting to hear good news that the two sides could reach an agreement."

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Haneya reiterated that his government "is determined to exert every possible effort and do all its best to remove all obstacles and reach an agreement."

"We are looking forward to reach an agreement that gets the current Palestinian status out of the crisis and reinforce the internal Palestinian front," said Haneya.

Meanwhile, Mashaal, the Hamas leader, had said that "Hamas movement does have the true intention and the determination to reach an agreement," adding that "Hamas movement would cooperate with all parties to form a government, a national unity government that arranges the Palestinian home and treat all outstanding issues."

Source: Xinhua