 Rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah have agreed to hold their first direct talks since Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip in June 2007. The agreement, mediated by Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, aims to end the bitter feud between the two groups. Fatah, which controls the West Bank, denounced the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip as a coup. Both sides say they want to return to the situation before the events of June 2007 and that Palestinian unity is paramount. The first round of talks are scheduled to take place on 5 April but the make-up of the delegations has not yet been announced |