Abbas arrives in Cairo to meet Hamas leader
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Xinhua, November 23, 2011
Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas arrived in Cairo Tuesday afternoon where he will meet the leader of rival Hamas in joint efforts to achieve national reconciliation, a Fatah official said.
Abbas will meet the head of Egypt's ruling military council Hussein Tantawi before he meets the head of Hamas' politburo Khaled Meshaal on Thursday.
Azzam al-Ahmad, a senior official of Fatah, said the meeting will be held as scheduled despite the ongoing turmoil in Cairo.
Abbas and Meshaal will discuss the candidate who, if approved, will act as prime minister for a transitional government to rule the Palestinian territories until the elections are held.
"We are going to Cairo with open hearts to discuss all issues and we won't retreat," al-Ahmad told Voice of Palestine Radio.
In 2007, Hamas routed pro-Abbas forces and took over Gaza, leaving the Fatah-led Palestinian National Authority confined to the West Bank.
Abbas previously wanted to retain his West Bank Prime Minister Salam Fayyad for the upcoming government but showed flexibility after being rejected by Hamas.
