Egyptian mediation between Fatah, Hamas; Mashaal denies meeting Salaam in Damascus
Egypt-Palestine, Politics, 10/18/2002

The media office of the political bureau of the Hamas movement, headed by Khaled Mashaal, stressed that he had recently made a telephone call with the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat in the framework of the contacts made by the Hamas and the Fatah movement "inside and outside" the Palestinian territories in order to contain the crisis resulting from assassinating a high ranking officer in the Palestinian police, while Palestinian papers talked about Egyptian efforts to mediate between Fatah and Hamas.

In a statement issued in Damascus, Mashaal office stressed that "telephone contacts and meetings were held belwteen the Fatah and Hamas movements inside and outside in order to contain the problem in Gaza " and these included a telephone call between Mashaal and Arafat.

However, the media office for Hamas denied the occurrence of a meeting between Khaled Salaam, the advisor for the Palestinian President, and between Mashaal, but without giving any details about the meetings which took place.

A high ranking official at the Fatah movement said to be anonymous stressed on Tuesday that Khaled Salaam held talks in Damascus with Khaled Mashaal in order to discuss means of ending the crisis that erupted following the killing of the official responsible for fighting acts of riots in the Palestinian police, Lt. Gen. Rajeh Abu Lehya, on October 7th.

Meantime, the Palestinian daily al-Ayam quoted a Palestinian official as asserting that "contacts and meetings were made between officials from the Fatah movement and Hamas in the presence and participation of Egyptian officials and took place by the beginning of the current weak to contain the crisis." The official described the meetings as "important and useful," stressing that "the Egyptian role contributed to drawing strong lines to contain the crisis."

Previous Stories:
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  Maher: Israel's policy against the Palestinian is futile   (10/3/2002)
  Arafat appeals to Arab leaders; Mubarak says Israeli escalation encourages desperation   (9/21/2002)

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