Hamas denies its leader moved to Sudan

Tuesday September 02, 2008 13:29 by Rami Almeghari - IMEMC&Agencies

Ruling Hamas party in Gaza denies any reports that its exiled supreme leader, Khaled Masha'l has moved from Syria to Sudan, asserting their strong ties with Syria.

Exiled leader of Hamas, Khaled Mash'al

Hamas spokesman in Gaza, Ismail Redwan, describes Hamas-Syrian ties by stating that "our relations with twin Syria are strategic, profound and good." Redwan also received an official invitation from Cairo for dialogue, pointing out that Egypt will host a delegation of the party in the upcoming three weeks for bilateral talks between the party's representatives and Egyptian officials; following a Hamas-Fatah talk.

For a week now, Palestinian factions' representatives and Egyptian officials have been holding meetings in the framework of Palestinian national dialogue. On the sideline of the meetings, Egypt proposed deployment of Arab troops in Gaza. Hamas spokesperson Redwan rejected such a suggestion claiming that "what is being proposed will undermine underway dialogue, as the Gaza Strip lives an unprecedented state of security and order, therefore, there is no need for such Arab forces". He maintained that such forces should be present in the West Bank and Jerusalem to liberate the holy places from the occupation." 

As for Hamas-Fatah dialogue, Redwan looked forward to a meeting between President Mahmoud Abbas, Khaled Mash'al of Hamas and President Husni Mubarak of Egypt, hoping such a meeting would help resolve current political turmoil. On Tuesday evening, a delegation of the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine will also be meeting with Egyptian officials in Cairo for talks concerning the Palestinian national dialogue.

The Hamas-Fatah dialogue has been stalled since Hamas took over the coastal region in June 2007. Abbas has been demanding Hamas to renounce control over Gaza before any national talks commence between the two rival parties.

gaza strip | palestinian politics | news report rami at imemc dot org