Egypt on Sunday intensified the pressure on rival Palestinian parties meeting in Cairo for unity talks to come up with an agreement in the coming weeks, the official MENA news agency reported. A fifth round of talks between Fatah party and Hamas movement began in the Egyptian capital on Saturday under the supervision of Egyptian intelligence minister Omar Suleiman. According to the report in MENA, the Egyptian official "has proposed during talks with both parties late on Saturday that the next round of talks be devoted to an announcement of the end of divisions."

A senior Egyptian official told the news agency the talks were now in their final phase. "We expect an announcement on the signature of an agreement in Cairo at a date that will be fixed in the coming weeks," the official was quoted as saying.

© 2009 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)