Doha: An aide to the Palestinian President says talks are under way between him and the head of rival Hamas over efforts to move along a reconciliation pact.
Abbas aide Azzam al-Ahmed told reporters in Qatar's capital Doha that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah and Khaled Mashaal, leader of the Islamist Hamas, had "positive" discussions but gave no further details.
Both sides have endorsed an accord to end more than four years of separate governments in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip and the West Bank, which is ruled by Abbas' Western-backed Palestinian Authority.
Main issues include forming a transitional unity government and setting the date for elections.
It's unclear whether any decisions are expected in Qatar. Al-Ahmed said further talks were set for later Sunday.
Bureau Report
First Published: Sunday, February 05, 2012, 18:54