Fatah, Hamas reps may meet in Cairo

CAIRO, Oct. 10 (UPI) -- Sources close to the dueling Fatah and Hamas parties in the Palestinian territories said the party representatives have scheduled talks in Cairo.

Musa Abu Marzouk, deputy head of the Hamas political bureau, said the meeting, which would be the first between representatives of the feuding parties in several months, is expected to take place "before the end of the month," The Jerusalem Post reported Friday.

"We want national unity," Abu Marzouk said after talks with Egyptian Intelligence Chief Gen. Omar Suleiman in Cairo. "We are confident that we can solve our differences."

Suleiman is attempting to organize a "national dialogue" conference for the Palestinian factions in early November. He has been pushing to bring Hamas and Fatah representatives to the table prior to the conference.

Abu Marzouk said the Egyptian solution to the Palestinian friction involves the creation of five committees tasked with overseeing the status of the Palestinian government, reforming the Palestinian Liberation Organization, rebuilding the Palestinian security forces, preparing for the next parliamentary and presidential elections and restoring order to the Gaza Strip.