Abbas accuses Hamas of putting Palestinians at risk

Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas accused the rival Islamist movement Hamas which rules Gaza of putting the lives and national aspirations of Palestinians at risk.

Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas on Sunday accused the rival Islamist movement Hamas which rules Gaza of putting the lives and national aspirations of Palestinians at risk.

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"They ... have taken risks with the blood of Palestinians, with their fate, and dreams and aspirations for an independent Palestinian state," he told a press conference.

"Why?" he asked. "Frankly, because of the agendas of non-Palestinians."

Abbas was in Cairo for talks on Monday with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak amid efforts underway in the Egyptian capital to bolster a Gaza ceasefire between Hamas and Israel.