CAIRO, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- Egypt, in a strongly worded message to Hamas, said the group must relinquish violence and abide by Middle East peace accords.
In remarks made following a meeting Wednesday between Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and his Palestinian counterpart, Mahmoud Abbas, Egypt's intelligence chief and Mideast troubleshooter Omar Suleiman said ceasing violence and sticking to peace accords are pre-requisites for Hamas to form the next Palestinian government.
He said Abbas will not ask the Islamic militant group to form the government unless it rejected violence, recognized Israel and abided by previous peace accords and plans.
"No one will talk to them before they give up violence, recognize Israel's existence and accept peace agreements, including the 'road map,'" Suleiman told reporters in Cairo.
"These people (Hamas) are radicals. But we have to try and convince them to change their stance, although we know that making them change by 180 degree is a difficult matter that may take six months or more," he added.
Hamas, which is expected to form the next Palestinian government, won the elections in a landslide.
The European Union and the United States threatened to cease assistance to the Palestinians if Hamas formed the next government without giving up violence and scraping a clause in its charter that calls for Israel's destruction.
Mubarak also met Wednesday with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni who described the talks as "very important in view of the sensitive situation in the Middle East."
In the meantime, a team of Hamas leaders arrived in Cairo and is expected to hold talks with Egyptian officials later Wednesday.
