Hamas pressed for ceasefire
2009-01-06 17:32
Cairo - Egypt is stepping up pressure on the Syria-based Hamas leadership to accept a ceasefire in the fighting in Gaza.
Egyptian officials close to the negotiations under way in Cairo say the country's influential intelligence chief, Omar Suleiman, is urging Hamas envoys to get Hamas to co-operate on international efforts to end the conflict.
The fighting is now in its eleventh day.
Suleiman met with the Hamas delegation on Tuesday. The officials talked on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the negotiations.
Egypt's Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said on Monday that Hamas' officials based in Syria - Mohammed Nasr and Imad al-Alami - flew in from Damascus on Monday to discuss ways to "realise a ceasefire".
- AP