 An attempt by the Yemeni government to mend fences between Fatah and Hamas failed Thursday after the Fatah delegation walked out of the talks.
| "That's it. We're outta here!" |
Earlier this week, representatives of Fatah and Hamas were invited to Sana for talks on an initiative by Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to end the ongoing power struggle between the two parties. The initiative urges Hamas to end its control of the Gaza Strip and hand the area back to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah. It also calls for holding early elections in the PA-controlled areas and the establishment of another "unity" government.
| 'Cuz there's nothing like a Government of National Unity™ to bring your country peace and tranquility. |
Prior to the talks, Fatah announced that it had accepted the initiative, while Hamas expressed reservations.
| Yesterday it looked like all was peaches and cream, ham and eggs, crackers and cheese, peace and harmony... |
The Fatah delegation is headed by Azzam al-Ahmed, head of the Fatah parliamentary bloc and a senior Fatah official. The Hamas team is headed by Musa Abu Marzouk, deputy chairman of Hamas's political bureau. Abbas's spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudaineh, held Hamas responsible for the collapse of the talks. He said Hamas refused to sign a draft agreement that was proposed by the Yemeni president.
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