Syria makes efforts over formation of Palestinian coalition government

Syria has witnessed a flurry of diplomatic activity in the past week aimed at securing agreement on a Palestinian coalition government and resuming the peace process as several regional and European officials visited Damascus.

Several deals and mediations have failed so far in bridging gaps between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the governing Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) over the establishment of a coalition government.

The Syrian efforts came after Hamas rejected on Oct. 10 two key articles of Qatar's six-point initiative, which is the latest attempt to settle differences among Palestinian factions and help end a growing crisis in the Palestinian territories.

Egypt, which has been attempting to help broker a deal, sent Omar Suleiman, it's intelligence chief, to Damascus on Saturday to delivered to Syrian President Assad a message over the issue from Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak.

In addition, Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos, a former European Union (EU) peace envoy to the Middle East region, held talks with Assad on Saturday in which they discussed the latest developments in the region and the European visions on the resumption of the peace process.

During the meeting, Assad asserted the necessity of a just and comprehensive peace on all tracks while Moratinos attached importance to "Syria's key role in the peace process and in achieving stability in the region."

Earlier this week, Syria also exchanged views with Qatar and Bahrain on the current internal dialogue among the Palestinians on the coalition government.

The diplomatic efforts also coincided with a deepening rift between Fatah and Hamas after clashes between Hamas government's auxiliary forces and security members loyal to Abbas occurred almost on a daily basis, which has further complicated the already troubled talks.

Both the Hamas government and its rival Fatah movement sent officials to Damascus for talks with the Syrian leadership.

Fatah leader Farouk al-Qaddoumi, who runs the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)'s political department, met with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem on Saturday.

During their meeting, Muallem said that Damascus encourages dialogue among the Palestinian factions and backs the formation of a national unity government.

Qaddoumi, for his part, claimed that internal dialogue among the Palestinians has produced positive outcome by reaching reconciliation toward a national unity government.

He said Palestinian factions would held a meeting on the coalition government after Ramadan, the Muslim holy month of fasting and atonement.

Meanwhile, a delegation of the Hamas-led Palestinian government headed by Interior Minister Saed Siyam, also paid a visit to Damascus and held talks with Syrian Interior Minister Bassam Abdel Majeed on "police training" on Saturday.

Talks over forming a Palestinian coalition government aimed at lifting an international boycott on the current government led by the Islamic Resistance government have stalled as the group has repeatedly refused to recognize Israel, a key Western demand. Source: Xinhua