US cautious on Hamas-Fatah agreement

WASHINGTON, Feb 9 (Reuters) The White House today was cautious about a deal signed between the Hamas militant group and Fatah aimed at establishing a new Palestinian unity government.

''We have not actually seen the agreement and it's important that we be given some time to look at the agreement, especially at the details of it,'' said White House spokeswoman Dana Perino.

Hamas, which Washington refuses to deal with because it rejects Israel, reached the agreement yesterday to end factional warfare that has killed scores of Palestinians.

Perino said the United States appreciated the mediating role played by Saudi Arabia in achieving the agreement, which was signed in Mecca.

She also said any slowing of violence due to the agreement was welcomed.

''Clearly the violence has served no one. In fact it's only served to kill many innocent people. We hope that the violence that has ebbed, that that will hold off. And then when we get a chance to look at the agreement in more detail we'll be able to say more at that point,'' she told reporters.

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