Visiting Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas Wednesday urged the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) to join a national unity government.

"We have offered to Palestinian movements to take part ... we hope (they will). We still did not hear an official answer from our brethren in Hamas," Abbas told reporters upon his arrival.

"This is a national matter on which all have interest, therefore we should all participate," he added.

On Monday, Hamas ruled out joining a unity government before the delayed legislative election is held in January.

A Syrian official told reporters that Syria will offer all kinds of support to Abbas in order to ensure that the Palestinian government will be able to deal with the new situation in the region and achieve national unity.

He said Syria, however, will not exert pressure on Palestinian factions to join a unity government.
 
Abbas is expected to meet with Damascus-based Hamas political leader Khaled Meshaal and officials from the Islamic Jihad (Holy War) and other factions in Syria.

Abbas arrived in Syria for a two-day visit, and will hold talks with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad on Thursday.

(Xinhua News Agency July 7, 2005)