'Progress' in Middle East coalition talks

Significant progress has been made in the Middle East during secret coalition talks between the supreme Hamas leader and aides of moderate Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas, officials from both sides said today.

Moussa Abu Marzouk, deputy head of Hamas’ political bureau in Damascus, confirmed the secret talks and said Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal would meet with Mr Abbas early next week in the Syrian capital. An Abbas aide said the meeting would take place on Monday.