GAZA, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- A spokesman for Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in Gaza said on Wednesday that the question of holding early presidential and legislative elections in the Palestinian territories is negotiable.

    "Holding early presidential and legislative elections can be a subject for dialogue (with rival Fatah movement)," said Sami Abu Zuhri. "But it must be part of the agreement, and not the agreement itself," he added.

    Egypt has been recently holding separate bilateral dialogue with Palestinian factions and political groups to examine their views concerning the comprehensive dialogue that is scheduled to start in October.

    Abu Zuhri told a Gaza local Radio station that the question of holding early elections needs and national agreement, adding "holding elections is not the therapy, but it has to be the outcome of the dialogue between the parties."

    Top Hamas leader in Gaza Ismail Radwan expected that Egypt would invite leaders of rival Fatah and Hamas movements for separate dialogue in Cairo before the end of September.

    Asked about the current bilateral Cairo dialogue with each faction's leaders, Abu Zuhri said that the participation of the factions' leaders is positive and reflects their seriousness.

    "We call on President Mahmoud Abbas to join Cairo dialogue, because his participation would reflect his seriousness to succeed the dialogue," said Abu Zuhri. "His absence would prove that he is not serious to reach an agreement."

    The sources expected that after the end of Ramadan, the Moslems' month of fasting, Egypt is planning to get President Abbas and Hamas politburo Khaled Mesh'al together at one table.

    "We don't care about words, what we are interested in is deeds on the ground," said Abu Zuhri, who slammed the general strikes of Gaza teachers and doctors, which were called by Ramallah.