CAIRO, Feb 1: Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas and Egypt took a tough line with Hamas on Wednesday, saying it must ‘renounce violence’ and recognise Israel if it wants to form the next Palestinian government.

Hamas, which has spearheaded a wave of bloody attacks against Israel in recent years and defeated Mr Abbas’s Fatah in parliamentary elections last week, turned down the demands but said it was willing to discuss the option of a truce.

After a meeting in Cairo between Abbas and President Hosni Mubarak, Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman urged Hamas to take three key steps.

“One, to stop the violence. Two, it should become a doctrine for them to be committed to all the agreements signed with Israel. Three, they have to recognise Israel,” he told reporters.

“If they don’t do it, Abu Mazen (Abbas) will not ask them to form the government. Abu Mazen will (instead) form the government with other parties,” said Suleiman, who attended the meeting and also met Abbas Tuesday.

Mr Abbas did not speak directly to the press Wednesday but was expected to meet a delegation of Hamas officials in Egypt before more talks in Gaza on Friday to discuss the formation of the next government.

His spokesman did not explicitly say that recognition of Israel would be a pre-condition for Hamas’s participation in the cabinet. —AFP