West must recognise new Palestinian govt -Meshaal

DAMASCUS, Nov 20: The West has no option but to recognise a Palestinian unity government whose details are being worked out between Hamas and Fatah, Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal said today.

''This is an opportunity for the international community to correct its mistake. Some of its members did not respect the will of the Palestinian electorate. They now have to learn and respect Palestinian consensus,'' Meshaal said, ''The atmosphere with Fatah is positive. We want to tell the world we form one Palestinian line and the siege has to be lifted.

The international community has no option but to respect Palestinian will,'' Meshaal said after a late night meeting with Ahmad Qurei, a high level Fatah member.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas sent Qurei to Damascus to resolve issues preventing the formation of a new government.

A main point to be worked out is guarantees Hamas seeks through Abbas for the West to recognises the new administration and lift sanctions that are contributing to an economic crisis in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

Qurei, who is due to meet Syrian President Bashar al-Assad later today, was in Damascus in September. Feuding with Hamas then prevented him from meeting Meshaal.

Syria, historically at odds with Fatah, hosts exiled members of Hamas. Diplomats say the Baathist government has stepped up backstage diplomacy to cajole Hamas into easing its grip on power in a bid to undercut Israeli attempts to paralyze the Islamist group.

PLO Meshaal said negotiations with Fatah have come a long way.

''We are discussing all details regarding the next administration, but we have nothing to gain by revealing them now. The atmosphere with Fatah is positive and this meeting is an indicator,'' Meshaal said.

The Islamist movement defeated Abbas' Fatah faction in January's Palestinian elections and formed a government in March that has been under Western sanctions. Washington, Israeli's chief ally, says any new government must accept to recognise the Jewish state, renounce armed struggle and accept peace accords.

Hamas refuses to recognise Israel and end its armed struggle, saying such moves would be futile as long as Israel shows no sign of relinquishing all occupied land and keeps expanding Jewish settlements in the West Bank.

Palestinian politicians say a way around the recognition issue is for Hamas to enter into the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, which signed peace accords with Israel although it includes factions that do not recognise the Jewish state.

Meshaal said a meeting between Hamas and Fatah in Damascus is being prepared to discuss re-organising the PLO as a step for Hamas to enter the organisation.

''There is a newfound understanding,'' Meshaal said. ''We hope it will result in the announcement soon of a Palestinian unity government and serious steps to rebuild the PLO.''

REUTERS