In Damascus, Hamas & Fatah sort of, reconcile ...

"...DAMASCUS, Syria — Palestinian rivals Hamas and Fatah announced Saturday that they have agreed on steps to end their division and share power and said they will hold more talks before signing a final deal in Cairo.

The two sides have been bitterly divided since Hamas militants violently seized control of the Gaza Strip in 2007, leaving Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah in control only of the West Bank....

The agreement came during a four-hour meeting that ended early Saturday between two delegations headed by Hamas' exiled leader, Khaled Mashaal, and senior Fatah official Azzam al-Ahmed. A joint statement issued after the talks said the two sides have reached an understanding on "the majority of points of difference." It gave no details, but the sides have differed over control of Palestinian security forces and the date for parliamentary and presidential elections.

Hamas official Izzat Rashaq said the next meeting is expected during the first week of October. The two groups will then head to Cairo to sign a reconciliation agreement.

That would clear the way for new Palestinian elections.

Egypt has been trying to reconcile the rivals ..."