Sunday, January 23 2005 14:20 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Jerusalem: Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas has secured a ceasefire deal with the radical Islamist Hamas movement and its smaller rival Islamic Jihad, persuading them to end their campaign of anti-Israeli attacks, Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz said today (Jan 23, 2005), welcoming the news.

"An agreement on a ceasefire was completed between Abu Mazen (Abbas) and terrorist organisations including Hamas and Islamic Jihad," in talks in the Gaza Strip, Mofaz said on military radio.

"This agreement was sealed in exchange for the future integration, notably of Hamas, in the Palestinian political institutions," Mofaz added, in a reference to the Palestinian Authority.

"The agreement constitutes a positive sign and a success for Abu Mazen, we are pleased with it but must closely follow the way the terrorist organisations conduct themselves on the ground."

Abbas met late last night with Hamas leaders. His office put out a statement after the meeting saying the talks had been "positive" and centred on "the return of calm that is in the national interest of Palestinians."

But neither side mentioned any truce deal.

A Hamas leader, Sami Abu Zohri, however later told journalists: "We spoke at length the return to calm and we said that we were ready to discuss this, on condition that it be clearly established that the Israeli occupation ends."

Three militant Palestinian groups, including the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades linked to the mainstream Fatah, said yesterday they were ready to back the new Palestinian leader's bid to end armed conflict with Israel.