Abbas to meet Mesh'al in Syria

GAZA, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- A spokesman for the Hamas movement says PLO Chairman Mahmoud Abbas will meet this week with the Hamas chief in Syria, Khaled Mesh'al.

Sami Abu Zahri said Mahmoud Abbas will meet during his upcoming visit to Damascus with Khaled Mash'al, who is also head of the Hamas Politburo.

"The talks between Abu Mazen and Mesh'al would discuss the issues of dialogue and political partnership and collective leadership and the PLO as a collective formula that includes all the Palestinians," Abu Zuhri said.

Well-informed Palestinian official sources said Abu Mazen will meet Wednesday with Syrian President Bashar Assad and leaders of opposition groups that have their offices in Damascus.