RIYADH (AFP) — Hamas political supremo Khaled Meshaal is holding talks with officials in Saudi Arabia, amid moves by the oil-rich kingdom to boost its role in securing peace across the Middle East, a source close to Meshaal said on Saturday.
Meshaal arrived in Saudi Arabia late on Friday and is meeting officials in Riyadh, the aide told AFP, without giving further details.
Saudi Arabia last February brokered a short-lived power sharing agreement between Hamas and rival faction Fatah, which is led by Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas.
Abbas dismissed the Hamas-led government after Hamas seized control of Gaza and has appointed a new cabinet based in the West Bank.
He has since ruled out any dialogue with Hamas until it returns the strip to his authority.
Saudi Arabia, a principal patron of the Palestinians and an influential voice in the Muslim world, also played a key role in the US-hosted Middle East conference held last month that aimed to kickstart peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians.
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