GAZA, Feb. 4 (Xinhuanet) -- Top Hamas leader Ismael Haneya said on Saturday that his movement has officially asked Fatah to join the next cabinet, well-informed Palestinian sources said.

   Haneya said in press statements that Hamas and Fatah have held two meetings concerning the situation in the aftermath of the Jan. 25 Palestinian legislative elections, in which the Islamic group defeated the long-dominant Fatah.

   The last meeting between the two movements ended at predawn Friday and was attended by Fatah members Ahmed Helles and Sameer Masharawi and Hamas leaders Haneya and Mahmoud al-Zahar.

   Haneya said Fatah officials acknowledged that the election represented a national achievement for the Palestinian people.

   He said at the meeting Hamas reasserted its commitment to achieving a political partnership. "We believe that it is important to strengthen cooperation and coordination inside the Palestinian ground," he said.

   Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who arrived in the Gaza Strip on Friday, is set to meet Hamas leaders on Saturday, though Abbas said talks on the formation of a new government were still "premature". Enditem