Abbas wins Arab states' backing

by Al Jazeera (reposted)

Sat, Jun 16, 2007 8:18AM

Arab states have thrown their support behind the leadership of Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, and urged a halt to infighting so that the unity of Palestinian lands can be preserved.

"We are supporting President Abbas and we are supporting the elected legislative assembly," Amr Moussa, Arab League secretary-general, said on Friday.

Arab League foreign ministers gathered for an emergency session in Cairo to discuss how to deal with the Palestinian split after Hamas gained full control of the Gaza Strip.

A statement from the 22 members of the group condemned what it called "the criminal acts recently committed in Gaza".

"We are seeking a national unity in Palestine and we stand against the events that we have witnessed in the last days," Moussa said after the six hour meeting in the Egyptian capital.

He said there must be an "immediate and full halt" to the violence.

'Palestinian cause'

Moussa said that Arab countries want to "serve the Palestinian cause, and not one faction against another".

More
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/F69114ED-65E3-40D4-856E-F7327EE6B26E.htm

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