Gaza  - Hamas leader Ismail Haniya said Thursday he wants to have talks with the rival Fatah movement of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas under the supervision of the Arab League.

The League of Arab Nations would host talks between the two sides until a compromise is signed, the former prime minister of the Palestinian National Authority said in a televised statement.

Nearly a year after the violent takeover of the Gaza Strip by Hamas, Abbas said on Wednesday he was open for talks with the radical Islamic group, Hamas.

Abbas also announced that he is prepared for early parliamentary and presidential elections. Haniya accepted the invitation for talks and encouraged Hamas and Fatah to release prisoners of other organizations to help prepare the stage for coming talks.

The rival Palestinian Hamas and Fatah factions, have been at loggerheads since Hamas routed Fatah in June last year and seized full control of the Gaza Strip. Until now Abbas has said that before any talks could take place the power structure prior to the Gaza takeover must be restored. (dpa)