CAIRO: The head of Egypt's prestigious Al Azhar institution said yesterday resolving the rift between the Palestinian groups Hamas and Fatah was an Islamic duty and branded whoever blocked it a 'sinner'.
"Palestinian reconciliation is a religious obligation and a sacred duty. Whoever blocks or delays it has sinned," Sheikh Ahmed Al Tayeb said.
He called on Palestinians, "regardless of their affiliations, to rise above their differences."
Egypt tried unsuccessfully to mediate between Fatah and Hamas, blaming latter, which refused to sign a unity agreement, for the failure of the talks.
The Palestinians have been divided since the Hamas movement routed forces loyal to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas from the Gaza Strip in 2007, limiting his powerbase to the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Meanwhile, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak supported holding a Middle East peace conference in Moscow, Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit said.
At a Press conference with Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov, Abul Gheit said Mubarak and Lavrov discussed "convening a ministerial meeting in Moscow that would include all parties in the peace process."
Mubarak "strongly affirmed the idea of holding this meeting," Abul Gheit said. "Russia will continue its efforts towards peace in the Middle East," Lavrov said.
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