Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas held "positive" talks with Hamas chief Khaled Meshal in Doha Monday in the first meeting since their rival movements signed a surprise unity deal last month.
The meeting began at 0900 GMT shortly after Abbas held talks with Qatari emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, a senior Palestinian official told AFP in Ramallah.
"Abbas and Meshal held a long meeting this afternoon in Doha to discuss the latest Palestinian developments, including the reconciliation agreement and creating a positive atmosphere in which to achieve it," a Hamas statement said.
"The meeting was positive, with both leaders expressing a serious willingness to turn over a new leaf, based on national partnership," it added.
The exiled Hamas chief has been based in Doha for more than two years after leaving his previous base in Damascus because of the Syrian civil war.
The last time the two leaders met face-to-face was in Cairo in January 2013.
