GAZA CITY, Jan 30: Palestinian prime minister Ahmed Qorei held talks with militant factions here on Sunday as part of efforts to reach an agreement for a halt to anti-Israeli attacks.

Political representatives of groups such as Islamic Jihad, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP) took part in the impromptu meeting of the Islamic national high committee with Qorei.

However, the main Islamic radical movement Hamas was not present, with members saying that organisers had not been able to contact them in time. "We discussed the prospects for a mutual cease fire which would see an end the Israeli violations against us," Qorei said in brief comments after the meeting.

"We also talked about our (Palestinian Authority) contacts with the Israelis and how best to present our case." PA president Mahmoud Abbas has persuaded the factions to observe a temporary "cooling down" period but wants Israel to match any formal cease fire declaration by ending its military operations in the occupied territories and starting to release Palestinian prisoners.

Nafaz Azzam, a local leader of Islamic Jihad, said that the meeting had taken place in a positive atmosphere. "We talked about a cease fire but everybody, including Abu Alaa (Qorei), agreed that this cease fire should be not just be from one side and not for free," he said.

"The Palestinian people need genuine measures from Israel on the ground." Amid a general downturn in violence and with Palestinian security forces on patrol in Gaza, Israel has agreed to halt offensive operations in the territory. It still retains security control in the larger West Bank, but is expected to transfer responsibility to the PA in at least four towns this week. -AFP