Jerusalem, Jan 30 : The Palestinian Authority has accused Iran and Syria of encouraging Hamas and other radical groups to establish a new leadership that would challenge the PLO's claim to be the "sole and legitimate" representative of the Palestinians.

The PA fears that several Islamic governments that are unhappy with President Mahmoud Abbas would recognize the potential new leadership, which would be headed by Hamas chief Khaled Mashaal.

Ramallah - A top aide of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas accused Hamas Thursday of "obstructing" efforts to reconcile the warring Palestinian political factions, by raising "new conditions."

Yasser Abed Rabbo said Abbas' secular Fatah movement was willing to form a national unity government with Hamas.

But the radical Islamist movement was raising new conditions because it was not interested in reconciliation and was instead working to consolidate its hold over the Gaza Strip, he said.

He accused Hamas of killing, arresting and torturing Fatah fighters in Gaza.

Cairo - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met in Cairo Saturday with Egyptian President Hosny Mubarak as part of diplomatic efforts to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip after 15 days of Israeli attacks which have left over 800 dead and thousands wounded.

Abbas expressed his strong backing for the Egyptian-French initiative of last week calling for a cessation of violence, allowing aid to reach civilians, and for the Israelis and Palestinians to take steps to make sure another conflict does not erupt, including the possibility of international peacekeeping forces.

Ramallah  - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called Saturday for the United Nations Security Council to hold an urgent meeting to stop the Israeli air and ground offensives on the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said in a statement that Abbas called on the Security Council to convene immediately "to halt and stop the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip."

"President Abbas intensified his contacts with Arab and foreign countries to stop the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip without any preconditions," Erekat said.

Ramallah - Condemning the Israeli offensive in Gaza as a "heinous aggression" and a "horrific crime," Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Wednesday that negotiations with Israel cannot continue in their current form.

Ramallah - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ordered all celebrations for the New Year and for next week's Greek Orthodox Christmas Day in Bethlehem cancelled Tuesday.

The celebrations were called off as a result of a massive Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip that had left over 380 Palestinians dead and more than 1,800 wounded.

A statement issued by Abbas' office said his Fatah movement had also cancelled celebrations marking 44 years since its inception. Fatah celebrates its creation every January 1.