Awwal 23, 1432 H/April 27, 2011, SPA -- After years of dispute, rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah signed a reconciliation agreement mediated by Egypt in Cairo on Wednesday, dpa cited Fatah officials as confirming. The details of the surprise agreement would be revealed in a press conference in Cairo later on Wednesday, Fatah official Azzam al-Ahmad, who led his group's delegation in the talks, told the German Press Agency dpa by telephone phone. The deal creates a timeframe for legislative and presidential elections and calls for the formation of an interim government, pan Arab network Al Arabiya reported earlier. Egyptian intelligence chief Murad Muwafi mediated the talks between the Hamas delegation, led by Hamas politburo member Musa Abu Marzuka, and a group from Fatah led by al-Ahmad. A spokesperson for Hamas told Al Arabiya that all points of disagreement, which include key issues related to borders and security, were also resolved. Egypt has frequently mediated reconciliation talks between Hamas and Fatah, which is led by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, in the past. Relations between the two groups disintegrated after Hamas won legislative elections in 2006 and took control of the Gaza Strip the following year, limiting Fatah's control to the West Bank territories.
