Rival Palestinian Leaders Hold Reconciliation Talks in Mecca

  07 February 2007

Leaders of rival Palestinian factions Fatah and Hamas have opened talks in Saudi Arabia in efforts to end a deadly power struggle and form a unity government.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah, Hamas' exiled political chief Khaled Mashaal and Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh are meeting in the Muslim holy city of Mecca.

Tuesday, the rival Palestinian leaders met separately with Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah. The Saudi monarch says he hopes the Palestinians will reach an agreement to "stop the bloodshed."

Fighting between Hamas and Fatah erupted in December. More than 90 Palestinians have been killed in street battles since then.

Fatah and Hamas have been locked in a power struggle since parliamentary elections in the West Bank and Gaza Strip brought Hamas to power last year.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.

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