The interim Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) leader hopes to persuade militants in talks on Tuesday to halt attacks on Israel to allow a smooth election for a successor to Yasser Arafat next year, officials said. Mahmoud Abbas, a former prime minister seen as a likely presidential candidate for the January 9 poll, began talks with 14 groups in Gaza late on Monday and will start more important one-on-one meetings with key armed factions on Tuesday.
Arafat's death has kindled hopes of a revival in Middle East peacemaking, but also worries of violence among factions waging a 4-year-old uprising. Abbas escaped injury on Sunday in a Gaza gunfight started by angry gunmen.
Confidants said Abbas wanted to win over all the groups, including Islamists sworn to destroying Israel. They in turn might be given greater political influence.
"In the bilateral talks there will be a discussion of specific issues, the issue of a truce or maybe a temporary cease-fire will be discussed because there is a need," said lawmaker Ziad Abu Amr, who is close to Abbas.
As head of the decision-making PLO executive committee, Abbas is the most important figure in the post-Arafat leadership. Arafat's interim successor as president of the Palestinian Authority is parliament speaker Rawhi Fattouh.
Militants agreed to suspend attacks on Israel during Abbas's stint as premier in mid-2003. But the truce collapsed after a few weeks and a US-backed peace "road map" and a Palestinian state has been stalled ever since.
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