Abbas to hold talks in Cairo on Palestinian reconciliation

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will hold talks with Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi in Cairo on Wednesday over the Palestinian reconciliation file, Fatah Central Committee member said Sunday. Abbas visit will be preceded by talks between Hamas and Fatah delegations in Cairo on Monday and Tuesday as part of consultations to form a national unity government, Azam al-Ahmed told the Voice of Palestine. Al-Ahmed did not rule out that some Hamas leaderships in Gaza might issue some statements against the Cairo meetings with the aim of obstructing efforts to end internal divisions, saying "some people would be harmed if national reconciliation was achieved". Few days ago, Abbas announced the start of consultations with Hamas on the formation of a national unity government, an announcement that was denied later by some Hamas leaderships. Fatah and Hamas signed an agreement in Cairo in 2011, pledging to set up a caretaker government of independents to pave the way for parliamentary and presidential elections within 12 months, but its implementation stalled over the government's make-up.