Hamas gov't calls for halt to fighting

The Palestinians' Hamas government on Saturday called for a cease-fire, sending the first signal it is willing to compromise in its two-week standoff with Israel over captured IDF Cpl. Gilad Shalit. "If we want to get out of the current crisis, it is necessary to return to calm, on the basis of a mutual halt to all military operations," Cabinet spokesman Ghazi Hamad said. "This is the position of the prime minister (Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas), that everyone return to calm and stop all operations from both sides," he said.