'Fatah, Hamas agree to release all political prisoners'

Factions meet in Cairo to rekindle Palestinian reconciliation talks; Ma'an news agency reports agreement reached on prisoner release.

By JPOST.COM STAFF
Ahmad and Mazook 521 (photo credit: REUTERS)
Ahmad and Mazook 521
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Representatives of Fatah and Hamas agreed on Sunday to a mutual release of political prisoners, Palestinian news agency Ma’an reported.
Fatah’s Azza al-Ahmad and Hamas’s Mousa Abu Marzouk met in Cairo on Sunday in an attempt to rekindle reconciliation talks that hit a snag in July when the two parties could not agree on the formation of a unified government.
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Besides releasing political prisoners, a passport issuing committee was formed as well as a group to monitor organizations known to sow strife between the parties, according to the report.
Efforts by the two parties to form a unity government stalled last month when Hamas refused to consider Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas’s nomination of PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad for the premiership of the unity government.
The talks in Cairo were intended to address that issue, as well as several others, including the preparation for municipal elections in October, Ma’an reported.