Abbas says al-Qaida is in Gaza

BEIRUT, Lebanon, Feb. 27 (UPI) -- Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas confirmed reports Wednesday that al-Qaida has infiltrated the Gaza Strip.

In an interview with the Arabic newspaper al-Hayat, Abbas blamed Hamas for permitting al-Qaida operatives to enter the area, adding that the groups have had an alliance for years, Ynetnews.com reported.

"I believe that al-Qaida members have reached Palestinian territories and Gaza in particular," he said. "I think that al-Qaida's presence there was made possible with the help of Hamas, especially in Gaza."

Abbas said Hamas needed to acknowledge it conducted a coup that led to its control of the Gaza Strip and "to announce its obligations to the decisions binding the PLO, including the Arab peace initiative."

"Only then will we be able to hold elections for the presidency and the legislative council," Abbas said in the interview, adding that Hamas has tried two assassination attempts against him.

Abbas said no real progress has been made recently in the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. Once six core issues -- settlements, Jerusalem, borders, refugees, water and security -- are resolved, an independent Palestinian state could be founded, he said.