Activist dies as Hamas says U.S. blocks Palestinian reconciliation talks

Published March 21st, 2008 - 12:44 GMT

A Hamas activist died and two other members of the resistance movement were injured in an accidental explosion at a training camp in Gaza Strip, the second such incident in as many days, medics said.

 

Wael Hammudeh, 30, died in the blast in a camp of the armed wing of Hamas in southern Gaza Strip, medics and witnesses said, according to AFP. On Thursday two Hamas men were killed and a third seriously hurt in an explosion that rocked an area south of Gaza City used by Hamas' armed wing.

 

Meanwhile, Hamas voiced doubt on Friday that Yemeni-sponsored reconciliation talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah faction would succeed despite an agreement to extend the discussions for an extra day. At the request of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, the rival Palestinian parties agreed to meet on Saturday in a last-ditch push for a breakthrough.

 

"Fatah is trying to avoid reaching an agreement by all possible means," said Ayman Taha, a Hamas spokesman in the Gaza Strip. According to Reuters, Taha said Abbas was not interested in resuming talks with Hamas because of "an American veto".

 

Abbas aides said on Thursday that the negotiations had failed. But members of the delegation announced later that they would stay another day at Yemen's request.