Special Report: Palestine-Israel Conflicts

    GAZA, March 21 (Xinhua) -- A Hamas source on Saturday denied reports that Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman has invited Palestinian factions for an urgent meeting in Cairo after he returned from Washington.

    The reports said that Suleiman wanted to brief the factions on the U.S. administration's stance regarding Egypt's efforts to reconcile Hamas and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement by forming a unity government.

    "The movement did not receive any invitation for an urgent or regular meeting with Mr. Suleiman," the source said.

    The factions agreed on forming a transitional government but Hamas rejected the international community's demands of recognizing Israel and renouncing violence.

    On the U.S. position towards the Palestinian unity talks, the source said "We have often stressed that any external intervention in the dialogue are not allowed."

    "The dialogue must be based on the national interests and principles, not according to the American and foreign factors," the source stressed.

    He added that the factions will head to Cairo soon to resume the dialogue after they finish talks with their leaders.