Fatah, Hamas agree to form interim government, hold vote

[Playinghardball]

GAZA (Reuters) - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah movement and its bitter rival, the Islamist Hamas, struck a deal on Wednesday to form an interim unity government and fix a date for general election, both sides said.

The deal, which took many officials by surprise because of profound Fatah-Hamas divisions over how to resolve generations of conflict with Israel, was thrashed out in Egypt and followed a series of secret meetings.

"The two sides signed initial letters on an agreement. All points of differences have been overcome," Taher Al-Nono, the Hamas government spokesman in Gaza, told Reuters. He added that Cairo would shortly invite both sides to a signing ceremony.

The accord was first reported by Egypt's intelligence service, which brokered the talks.

More at: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/04/27/fatah-hamas-agree-to-form-interim-government-hold-vote/