Mashaal 'sorry' for mistakes during Gaza takeover

Exiled Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal apologized on Monday for mistakes made during last month's bloody takeover of the Gaza Strip, saying they were individual acts that do not represent Hamas policies. "What happened, I swear to God and God is a witness, was loathsome for us. But it is like a medicine pill that we were forced to swallow," he said in a speech at an Islamic conference held here. Parts of his speech were broadcast on the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera satellite TV station.