Palestinian Hamas gunmen leave a
building following the ceasefire agreement between Fatah and Hamas gunmen
in Gaza May 19, 2007. Hamas and Fatah leaders agreed on Saturday to a
renewed ceasefire in the Gaza Strip in a bid to stop factional fighting
verging on civil war, a spokesman for the Hamas-led government said.
(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
CAIRO, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Hosni
Mubarak held a phone conversation with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on
Saturday night, urging Palestinian factions to comply with an Egyptian-sponsored
ceasefire, the official news agency MENA reported.
Phone talks between Mubarak and Abbas came several
hours after warring Palestinian factions, Hamas and Fatah, reached a ceasefire
deal thanks to Egyptian mediation.
"Mubarak called on both Fatah and Hamas movements to
act in compliance with the ceasefire that was reached by the two parties," said
MENA.
Besides, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit
made a similar appeal after the truce was reached. "We hope that the
Palestinians will respect the Egyptian-brokered ceasefire," he said.
Abul Gheit called on the Israeli side not to attack
the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip "because this would increase tension between
Palestinians."
He also called on Palestinian militants to stop
firing rocket against Israel.
The ceasefire deal between Fatah and Hamas calls for
removing checkpoints and roadblocks from Gaza City streets by 15:00 local time
(12:00 GMT), displacing snipers and gunmen from high buildings an hour later
after the two sides exchange hostages, said Fatah spokesman Abdel Hakim Awad.
Burhan Hamad, the chief of the Gaza-based Egyptian
security team, participated in the meeting that was held at the Egyptian embassy
in Gaza City. The two factions will exchange their hostages at the same place.
Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haneya of Hamas sent
a message to the conferees urging them to abide by the agreements and to
maintain the fourth deal.
The three previous deals during
the nine-day-old fighting have failed to last more than a few minutes. Hamas and
Fatah officials will remain on session to secure full implementation of the
latest ceasefire.
Members loyal to rival Hamas and Fatah have engaged
in deadly infighting during the last six days, leaving up to some 50
Palestinians dead.
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