Hamas to maintain lull, but no immediate ceasefire

GAZA CITY, Feb 12 (AFP) - The biggest Palestinian militant group Hamas announced it would continue a lull in anti-Israeli attacks but would reserve judgement on a formal ceasefire, after talks with the leadership on Saturday.
"Hamas is going to maintain its cooling down period," one of its leaders, Ismail Haniyah, told AFP after the talks with Palestinian leader Mahmud Abbas, in which he took part.
Haniyah added that Abbas had confirmed Israel's agreement to a halt to military operations including targeted killings of militant leaders.
The Palestinian leader had been seeking Hamas's agreement to a mutual ceasefire with Israel which he announced at a breakthrough summit with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon in Egypt on Tuesday.

02/12/2005 20:02 GMT - AFP