A delegation sent by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to Yemen will not hold talks with the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) which will also send representatives to the Arab country, a delegation member said on Sunday.
Saleh Ra'fat, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), told Voice of Palestine radio that "the delegation will only meet with the Yemeni leadership and is not allowed to hold any talks with Hamas."
The visit aims at welcoming a Yemeni initiative to settle the internal Palestinian differences, Ra'fat said, adding "Any dialogue with Hamas is subject to its acceptance of the Yemeni initiative and retreating back from its coup."
Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh presented the initiative in late February, calling for ending Hamas control of Gaza and going for early presidential and legislative elections in the Palestinian territories.
Hamas spokesman in Gaza Ayman Taha told reporters on Saturday that Khaled Mashaal, Hamas politburo, will travel to Yemen this week to discuss the Yemeni initiative.
Taha said that "it is a positive step and serves the efforts to hold a national dialogue if the two delegations meet separately with Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh."
Hamas seized control of Gaza Strip after routing pro-Abbas forces last June. Terming Hamas' takeover of Gaza a coup, Abbas said the Islamic movement should end its control of Gaza before holding any dialogue.
Source:Xinhua
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