UN chief Ban hopes Palestinian deal curbs violence

UNITED NATIONS, Feb 9 (Reuters) UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed a deal between rival Palestinian factions to form a unity government, saying he hoped the pact would curb violence.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal and Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh reached agreement at talks in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Internecine fighting has killed more than 90 Palestinians since December.

Ban commended King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia for calling the meeting.

''He hopes that this agreement will curb the violence, creating a better future for the Palestinian people,'' UN spokeswoman Michele Montas said.

A Fatah official said there was concern the agreement would not be enough to end a blockade on aid by Western countries because of the Hamas-led government. The charter of Hamas, an Islamist group, calls for Israel's destruction.

''We are afraid the quartet will not accept this agreement and lift the siege,'' he said.

But Ban, a member of the quartet of West Asia advisers, along with the United States, the European Union and Russia, said he looked forward to ''discussing the way ahead''.

The quartet has demanded that Hamas renounce violence, recognise Israel and commit itself to existing peace accords before aid could flow again.

In an upset election victory in January 2006, Hamas beat the long-dominant Fatah movement of President Abbas, who is seen as a moderate. The United States severed contact with the new Hamas government and other factions refused to join.

Last June, Hamas militants and other gunmen launched a raid into Israel from Gaza, prompting an Israeli invasion and five-month offensive before a ceasefire in November.

REUTERS DKS BST0703