Special report: Palestine-Israel Relations

    GAZA, Nov. 13 (Xinhua) -- Islamic Hamas movement on Thursday said it can withdraw its boycott of inter-Palestinian dialogue if its political prisoners in West Bank are freed.

    The Egyptian-sponsored dialogue was due to start on Nov. 9 but Egypt postponed it after Hamas, who claimed more than 600 of its members are confined in West Bank prisons, decided to quit.

    "We are ready to join the dialogue when our political prisoners are released and when West Bank-based members of our delegation to the dialogue are allowed to travel," Hamas spokesmen said in a press conference held in Gaza city.

    The dialogue aims at reconciling Hamas and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement. Last year, Hamas routed pro-Abbas forces and seized Gaza Strip while Abbas consolidated his rule in West Bank.

    Hamas blamed Abbas on the failure of launching the dialogue. Abbas denied that his troops hold any Hamas activists for their political affiliation.

    Earlier on Thursday, the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) said Hamas should be responsible for the dialogue's failure and called on the Arab League to take a clear attitude toward Hamas.