Mashaal agrees to cede control of security, gov't institutions in Gaza

Damascus-based Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal confirmed that the Islamic group would return control of security and government institutions in Gaza to the Palestinian Authority, London-based newspaper Asharq Alawsat reported on Tuesday. The report quoted Hussein Abu-Qawik, a senior Hamas member in the Gaza Strip, who confirmed that Mashaal made the statements during a meeting with Saudi Arabian officials in Riyadh.