Palestinian reconciliation talks begin in Egypt

Cairo: Egyptian security officials say rival Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah have begun reconciliation talks in Cairo ahead of negotiations with Israel on cementing the Aug. 26 Gaza war truce.

They said the talks were being held on Monday behind closed doors at the Egyptian intelligence headquarters in Cairo. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media.

Blame-trading between the rivals has become more frequent since the end of the Gaza war, a sign that an agreement on running the territory is not within reach.

In the spring, western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas worked out a tentative agreement with Hamas under which he would head a temporary unity government of experts in both the West Bank and Gaza until elections could be held.