Hamas team arrives in Egypt for Gaza truce talks

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(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-02-12 13:47

CAIRO -- A delegation of the Palestinian Islamic Hamas movement arrived here on Wednesday for talks with Egyptian mediators for a lasting ceasefire with Israel.

During the two-day visit to Egypt, the Hamas delegation led by deputy head of the movement's political bureau Moussa Abu-Marzouk is expected to have talks with Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman on Thursday, the Egyptian MENA news agency reported.

The Hamas delegation is likely to convey the faction's response to a long-term ceasefire proposal during the meeting with Suleiman, Egypt's pointman for the mediation talks between Hamas and Israel.

Meanwhile, Palestinian sources said Wednesday that the chances of reaching an agreement are high.

The Palestinian sources said the ceasefire was likely to be announced soon as the outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert wants to "leave office with an achievement."

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said Wednesday that the discussions between Hamas officials and the Egyptian mediators would focus on a series of clarifications that Egypt has been convoying between Hamas and Israel.

Regardless of time limit, the ceasefire must meet the Palestinian people's demands of opening the crossing points and lifting the Israeli blockade on the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, according to Barhoum.

Egypt has been engaged in intensive mediation talks with the Palestinians, Israel and international parties concerned for a durable truce in Gaza since Israel and Hamas implemented unilateral cease-fires that ended a 22-day military operation in the Palestinian enclave on Jan. 18.