Abbas may take dramatic steps as Hamas talks fail

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas signalled he is giving up on forming a moderate government to replace the one headed by the militant Islamic Hamas, a decision that could spark violence or new elections – or both.

Speaking yesterday with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice at his side, Abbas said months of negotiations with Hamas, aimed at forming a unity government that would lead the West to lift a painful aid cut-off, were at a “dead end”.