Abbas to ask Hamas to end Israeli attacks

THE Palestinian prime minister, Mahmoud Abbas, has arranged a meeting with Hamas, his first since taking office a month ago, to persuade the Islamic militant group to stop attacks on Israelis, officials said yesterday.

Abbas plans to meet with Hamas leaders in the Gaza Strip, according to Ismail Hanieh, a spokesman of the group. The meeting was set to take place late last night or today.

According to a Palestinian official, speaking on condition of anonymity, Abbas is also weighing a US proposal that he meet with President Bush in Qatar.