Hamas chief denies Qaeda links, urges Fatah talks

0 Comments | AFP, July, 2007

DOHA (AFP) — Exiled Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal on Monday denied that Hamas has links with Al-Qaeda or wants an Islamic emirate in Gaza, and repeated the Islamist movement's call for talks with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas.

He was speaking a day after an Egyptian security official said the head of Al-Qaeda in Egypt was reported to have fled the country for the Gaza Strip.

"We don't want an Islamic or non-Islamic emirate. We told Arab countries that we want a Palestinian dialogue under Arab-Islamic auspices," Meshaal told a gathering of Muslim clerics in the Qatari capital Doha.

He dismissed claims that Hamas has links with Al-Qaeda.

"Hamas is now being accused of supporting Al-Qaeda. Those who say this seem to be saying 'I am with the camp that...