Hamas and Fatah in unity talks, ready for elections

CAIRO

Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal has announced he is in talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to form a national unity government.

“We are consulting about forming a government of national accord,” Meshaal told the BBC’s Hardtalk program, stressing that their efforts were aimed at “forging ahead with the reconciliation.” In May 2011 the two Palestinian factions, Hamas and Fatah, signed a reconciliation deal but it has not yet been implemented. However, in recent months there have been signs of a closer relationship between the two.
 
The Hamas chief also signaled that preparations for presidential, parliamentary and executive council elections are under way. “We are reinvigorating the PLO [Palestine Liberation Organization] and organizing its meetings until new national council and executive committee are elected,” he said.