Mubarak: Fatah, Hamas to resume dialogue after calm period

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak projected on Tuesday that the two main Palestinian factions -- Fatah and Hamas -- would soon overcome their differences through dialogue and stated that Cairo was willing to mediate. In an interview with Egyptian state television, Mubarak conveyed that the two sides needed a period of calm to resume dialogue.

"I believe that after a period of calm, especially as they had a legislative assembly where they (Hamas) had a majority, an understanding between them is bound to come about," he said.

Asked how long the period of calm should be, he said: "Maybe two weeks, maybe three weeks, maybe one month, until people start to think logically and soundly. In that case they are bound to start a dialogue."

Mubarak added that even if Hamas started the trouble in Gaza Strip, the fighting quickly got out of hand and the Palestinian government made "a big mistake" in losing control.

Asked whether PA President Abbas had backed away from his refusal to have dialogue with Hamas, Mubarak said that Abbas was still tense because he thought there had been a plot to assassinate him. "Of course he will be tense ... and he won't accept any dialogue, but it needs a period of calm and a return to sense and logic and after the process calms down, then it (dialogue) becomes possible," he said.

Mubarak said no external party should intervene between the Palestinian factions in the meantime. "We have been mediating between the two sides but it needs a period of calm (for mediation to resume)," he said.

The Egyptian president said there was no evidence that Syria or Iran played a part in the events in Gaza Strip.