The Palestinian movements of Hamas and Fatah began on Sunday key unity talks in the Egyptian capital.

The Palestinian movements of Hamas and Fatah began on Sunday key unity talks in the Egyptian capital.

Delegates from the two factions met "to prepare for the comprehensive dialogue" which is to take place on Tuesday in the Egyptian capital, the head of the Fatah delegation, Azzam al-Ahmed, told AFP.

Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal was expected to arrive in Cairo late on Monday, with Fatah chief Mahmud Abbas set to join him on Wednesday, officials said.

The two were to hold talks on Thursday to discuss ways of implementing a landmark reconciliation deal, which was signed in May but which has never got off the ground.
The deal between the two rival movements called for the establishment of a caretaker cabinet which would prepare for legislative and presidential elections within a year, but it was never implemented due to disagreements over who would take on the role of premier.

Sunday's dialogue between the two movements was expected to continue until Tuesday when they would be joined by representatives of all the other Palestinian factions to pin down plans to hold general elections in May and to discuss reforming the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

Ahmed said Tuesday's meeting "will focus on different points of the reconciliation agreement signed in May, the PLO, the formation of government, elections, reconciliation and the unification of the security forces and of civil institutions and security."