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Hamas denies seeking a ceasefire deal
[Jerusalem Post Middle East] Senior Hamas official Ismail Radwan on Friday denied reports published by a Chinese news agency on Thursday that the terror group was close to a ceasefire deal with Israel.

Palestinian news agency Ma'an quoted Gaza-based Radwan as saying that "any truce should include the opening of all crossings, lifting the siege imposed over Gaza and freezing the Israeli attack against civilians."

The report by the Chinese Xinhua agency was "totally not true," the senior Hamas official added.

The Jerusalem Post could not independently confirm the report.

On Thursday, Xinhua quoted sources close to Hamas as saying leaders had contacted Egyptian mediators telling them they were ready to negotiate a ceasefire deal for a limited period in return for an Israeli promise to halt attacks against the terror group's members in the Gaza Strip.

The initial report also noted that Hamas was expected to announce a ceasefire Friday.

Posted by: Fred 2009-05-10
http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=269459