Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas held talks with different factions yesterday to convince them to accept the cease-fire he has agreed with Israel. Already under pressure from Israel, Abbas has come to Cairo to convince the militant groups to declare and live by the 12-month truce, even though Israel says one year is not enough. "The coming period requires all forces to work with more responsibility, and to behave with greater political consciousness," said Egypt's intelligence chief Omar Suleiman as the meetings began.Suleiman said: "The Israeli forces have to withdraw from Gaza Strip as a step toward peace that should be followed by other steps to end the occupation that has been in Palestine since 1967
we are looking forward to the day on which our prisoners return to their families." Leaders from 13 factions sat around a table as Abbas told them that fewer militant attacks have eased the Palestinians' everyday plight. "There is no alternative but for dialogue between us now," he said.