Abbas denies report of talks with Hamas

RAMALLAH, West Bank, Oct. 14 (UPI) -- Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas denied a newspaper report Saturday that his Fatah Party plans talks with Hamas.

Ephraim Sneh, a member of the Israeli parliament, told The Jerusalem Post that Abbas made the denial during a meeting in Ramallah. In the past, Abbas has said he will only negotiate with Hamas if the group gives up its control of Gaza.

Al Hayat, a newspaper in London, cited a Hamas source that claimed representatives from the two groups had already held secret exploratory talks. The newspaper said a number of Arab countries have agreed to host a Fatah-Hamas summit.

"Both sides are trying to clarify the expectations of the other, but the talks are held in secret because making them public could complicate the situation," the Hamas source reportedly said.

Hamas has not been invited to a peace conference scheduled for November in Annapolis, Md.