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Palestinian leaders begin talks in Makkah

MAKKAH: Rival Palestinian leaders began crucial talks in this holy city of Makkah on Wednesday, vowing to reach a power-sharing agreement to avert civil war between them, a key step toward resuming the peace process with Israel.

Many Palestinians fear that factional fighting will erupt with even greater force if the talks fail. Gunbattles between Hamas and Fatah killed more than 30 persons in the days before a truce began Sunday — and in Gaza on Wednesday there were threats of new revenge attacks.

In a sign of unity, Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal and President Mahmoud Abbas, head of the Fatah faction, drove to Makkah in the same car for the first day of what Saudi and Palestinian officials have said will be intensified negotiations that will continue until a deal is hammered out.

``We came here to agree and we have no other option but to agree,'' Mr. Mashaal told the inaugural ceremony in a royal palace over looking the Kaaba.

Mr. Abbas vowed that ``we will not leave this holy place until we have agreed on everything good, with God's blessing ... I tell our people to expect good news, and I hope this [meeting] will not be mere words in the air.''

Mr. Meshaal turned to Mr. Abbas at the ceremony and said they both had to tell their supporters to respect the truce. ``We want to give a message to the nation, and the world, to create a positive atmosphere for these talks,'' Mr. Meshaal said. — AP

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