Hamas denies receiving modified Egyptian offers for Palestinian unity

Hamas on Monday denied reports that Egypt has agreed to amend its Palestinian unity proposal by issuing a new appendix taking into consideration the Islamic movement's reservations.

The Egyptian-sponsored national Palestinian dialogue "has been suspended and did not witness any new movement" since Cairo refused to accept Hamas' notes on an offer aimed at restoring the Palestinian unity, according to Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman.

Some reports in the Palestinian media said that Egypt had agreed to consider Hamas' notes and release a supplement to the reconciliation proposal.

But Salah al-Bardaweel, a senior Hamas official, told reporters that "these reports were untrue."

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah party, Hamas's bitter rival, has accepted the offer which calls for holding elections in June 2010 after the two movements reconcile.

The schism has been in place since Hamas routed pro-Abbas forces and seized control of the Gaza Strip in 2007.

Hamas' concerns involve the formation of a unity government and reforming the security services in Gaza.

After Hamas rejected the offer, Abbas decreed elections in January 2010 though Hamas has strongly opposed the polls.

Source: Xinhua