Mash'al: Hamas ready to hand over all PA departments, except security, in
the Gaza Strip
Date: 17 / 07 / 2007 Time: 11:55
www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=24022

Doha - Ma'an - Khalid Mash'al, head of Hamas' political bureau, said that
his movement is ready to return control of Palestinian Authority departments
in the Gaza Strip, except the security services, to President Mahmoud Abbas.
He said "Hamas will not hand over the security departments before rebuilding
and reforming them on a national criteria, [not] factionalism."

Speaking to the press in Doha, Qatar, Mash'al said that "dialogue amongst
Palestinian factions is critical to contain the recent crisis". He
maintained that other Arab countries, such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia, also
support interfactional talks as a means of resolving the conflict.

Mash'al reiterated Hamas' opposition to the resumption of security contacts
between Israel and the Abbas' West Bank emergency government, a move he
believes is designed to "disarm the resistance." Mash'al said Hamas is
making contacts with Arab states, stressing that his movement does not
intend to create, as they have been accused, an "Islamic emirate" in the
Gaza Strip.

Mash'al warned that there are files which "when will be opened they will
reveal the size of the crimes committed in the strip by the security
people."