Published today (updated) 03/01/2010 21:32

Bethlehem – Ma’an/Agencies –

Hamas leader Khaled Mesha'al said on Sunday the group was in the final stages of ending a power struggle with the rival Fatah movement after he held talks with Saudi officials in Riyadh.

"We achieved great strides toward achieving reconciliation," Mesha'al told reporters at the Foreign Ministry during a visit to the Saudi capital, according to Reuters news agency. "We are in the final stages now."

He also reiterated that Hamas has points that it wants revised in an Egyptian proposal for reconciliation with Fatah.

"We all agree that the signing of the [reconciliation] will take place in Cairo," he said.

Reuters quoted Saudi officials saying Mesha'al met with Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal in connection with reconciliation efforts.

Fatah, led by President Mahmoud Abbas, signed the Egyptian proposal in October. Hamas did not, citing reservations.

Hamas, who won 2006 parliamentary elections, took full control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, shutting down security forces loyal to Abbas. The president then dissolved a unity government and appointed a caretaker administration in the West Bank.

Mesha'al’s trip to Saudi Arabia followed a state visit by Abbas. US President Barack Obama's Middle East envoy George Mitchell will also visit the kingdom in the coming days, Reuters reported.

In an interview with the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Rai which appeared on Sunday, Abbas criticized Hamas for not signing the Egyptian proposal, which called for new elections in June 2010.

He was also quoted as saying that the Palestinian Authority (PA) had information on Hamas plans to carry out acts of violence in the West Bank.

"We won’t let anybody, whether it was Hamas or others to damage our security," Abbas told Al-Rai.

"When Hamas is able to take its own decisions, without external influence, reconciliation will be achieved," he added.

Also on Sunday Hamas and Fatah traded accusations of politically motivated arrests in their respective territories.

Fatah said that Hamas security forces arrested 13 members in northern Gaza.

Hamas also issued a statement saying Palestinian Authority security forces arrested 527 members of the party in December.

Mesha'al to Saudi FM: Hamas keen on security of Arab and Islamic countries

[ 03/01/2010 - 07:29 PM ]

RIYADH, (PIC)--

Political bureau chairman of Hamas Movement Khaled Mesha'al conferred on Sunday with Saudi foreign minister prince Saud Al-Faisal on Palestinian developments and reconciliation efforts.

Mesha'al, heading a delegation comprising his deputy Dr. Mousa Abu Marzouq and political bureau members Mohammed Nasr and Ezzet Al-Resheq, exchanged views on a number of issues with Faisal in Riyadh topped by reconciliation efforts and Zionist challenges such as judaization of Jerusalem and attempts to divide the holy Aqsa Mosque.

Resheq said in a press release that the visit falls in line with a tour that the Movement leadership was launching in a number of Arab and Islamic countries.

He added that Hamas asserted to the Saudi officials its keenness on prioritizing national reconciliation and its readiness to sign the reconciliation agreement as soon as its remarks were taken into consideration.

Resheq renewed his Movement's assertion that it was supportive of Arab, Islamic stability and categorically denied the fabricated news reports on alleged ties with the rebels in Yemen known as the Houthis.

He said that Hamas backs stability of Yemen and its territorial integrity, adding that Hamas has urged the Arab countries to boost the Palestinian people's steadfastness and to break the siege imposed on them.