Official: Hamas would join PA

GAZA, Aug. 26 (UPI) -- Yasser Arafat's national security adviser said Thursday Hamas would join the Palestinian Authority.

Jabril Rajoub told reporters Hamas has the right "to be a part of Palestinian political institutions," adding it was only a matter of time.

He said Egyptian officials "are holding serious and intensive contacts with all Palestinian factions" and denied there was disagreement between the older generation and the younger faction, which has called for reforms and an end to corruption.