GAZA, Dec. 26 (Xinhuanet) -- A senior Islamic Jihad (Holy war) official asserted Monday that there are no talks among Palestinian groups over the renewal of a one-year truce deal with Israel declared in March.

    Khaled al-Batsh told reporters that till now there is no official dialogue between Egypt and Palestinian factions over the matter.

    "Most likely, the one-year calmness will not be renewed for another term," said al-Batsh, adding that "the subject of renewing the truce has been on the agenda of any new dialogue, but till now nothing started."

    Asked about if his movement would like to renew the truce, al-Batsh said the truce will expire at the end of this year, but no one could predict what will happen after the calmness expires."We are not eager for renewal of a dialogue, as Israel escalates its aggression on the Palestinian people and violates the ceasefire around the clock," he said.

    He also slammed the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) for detaining dozens of Islamic Jihad members and keeping them in three major Palestinian jails in the West Bank, adding the prisoners started a hunger strike for an immediate release. He said that his group refused to participate in the legislative election due on Jan. 25, 2006. Enditem