Abbas claims Palestinian national dialogue talks fail

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas expressed sorrow over the halt of the national dialogue on forming a national unity government.

President Abbas' comments came during a joint press conference in Gaza with the European Union Foreign Policy Chief Javier Solana.

President Abbas told reporters that they discussed important issues in the region including the current ceasefire as well as the formation of a unity government which regrettably stopped.

He also said that they talked over resuming the peace process on the basis of the Roadmap, the vision of the US President George W. Bush and the Arab initiative.

For his part, Solana said that the President is taking very courageous decisions to the benefit of the Palestinian people, adding that President Abbas will always be able to cope with the Europeans.

Solana told reporters that President Abbas made every effort possible and tried to build a possibility of unity government, affirming that it had been difficult and impossible but in taking such a decision "he can count us."

He hoped that the ceasefire would be extended to the West Bank, stressing that President Abbas will always have the help of the European Union.

The Los Angeles Times reported today that Palestinian Prime Minister Hamas Ismail Haniyeh has refused to resign, as is being requested by Fatah Party, saying the talks had not collapsed and such claims are being made to extract concessions from his Hamas-led government. The Los Angeles Times reported him saying "Anyone who is saying that the dialogue among the Palestinian factions is over should take full responsibility for the consequences."