Hamas: Dialogue with Fatah to start on April 5

GAZA, March 23 (Xinhua) -- Ayman Taha, a Hamas spokesman in Gaza, said on Sunday that Hamas and its rival Fatah movement leaders agreed in Yemen to resume dialogue on April 5 in the Palestinian territories.

"Leaders of Hamas and Fatah agreed in Yemen to resume their dialogue on April 5 in the Palestinian territories. The dialogue will be based on the Yemeni initiative for reconciliation," said Taha.

The dialogue between the two movements was severed after Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip and routed President Mahmoud Abbas' security forces in mid-June last year.

"Of course there will be more meetings within the coming a few days between Hamas and Yemeni officials and between Hamas and Fatah to discuss the clauses of the Yemeni initiative," said Taha.

Since Wednesday, delegations from rival Abbas' Fatah and Hamas have been engaged in dialogue in Yemen in an attempt to resolve an internal Palestinian conflict that reached its peak in June 2007, when Hamas defeat Fatah and took over Gaza.

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has presented a seven-point initiative to leaders of Hamas and Fatah, which suggested a reversion to the pre-June 2007 situation and holding early presidential and legislative elections.

"We highly appreciate President of Yemen Ali Abdullah Saleh and his efforts to bridge the gaps and end the status of division among the Palestinians. We will do all our best to make these efforts successful," said Taha.