(17 Jun 2003) SHOTLIST
1. Exterior of PLO Executive committee headquarters
2. Mahmoud Zahar, spokesman for Hamas arriving
3. Hamas leader Ismail Abu Shanab arriving
4. Security standing guard
5. Ibrahim Abu Najah, Head of Committee of Dialogue (Fatah) getting out of car with Rawhi Fatouh, Secretary General of the Palestinian legislative council (yellow jacket)
6. Head of Red Crescent (ex-head of delegation to Madrid) in white shirt being greeted by them
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Mahmoud Al Hindi, Islamic Jihad
(Question: Will you be discussing a ceasefire?)
"No, no we are here to discuss what happened last week."
8. Various of round table with Mahmoud Abbas, Fatah and Hamas leaders
STORYLINE:
In a bid to save a faltering US-backed peace plan, Palestinian premier Mahmoud Abbas met senior Palestinian militants on Tuesday, attempting to trying to persuade them to halt attacks on Israel.
The move would be part of three-stage plan, known as the "road map", that begins with a halt to all violence and is to lead to a Palestinian state by 2005.
The militants have said they are willing, in principle, to halt attacks.
But they have attached conditions: Israel must halt targeted killings of Palestinians suspected of involvement in violence and other military strikes, release prisoners and withdraw to positions held before the outbreak of fighting in September 2000.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told parliament on Monday that he would continue his offensive against Hamas.
Israel also says a ceasefire can only be a step toward dismantling the armed groups.
Abbas has said he will not use force against the militias for fear of triggering civil war.
The Hamas-Israel clash, which has included a suicide bombing in Jerusalem and helicopters strikes in Gaza over the past week, has caused dozens of casualties on both sides and endangered the US-backed "road map".
Abbas' task is daunting.
Not only does he face opposition from the Islamic militant Hamas, the largest and deadliest of the militias, the military wing of his own Fatah faction has also defied his call to halt attacks against Israelis.
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