Hamas agrees to pull militia from public areas

The Hamas-led government agreed on Wednesday to withdraw a controversial private militia from public areas of Gaza in an agreement with the rival Fatah movement aimed at halting weeks of bloody infighting.

Hamas and Fatah also agreed on Wednesday to halt the clashes which have broken out across Gaza in recent weeks.

The agreement on the Hamas militia came after hours of talks in Gaza City mediated by Egyptian diplomats and joined by Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh.

"They are going to be in places away from the public. They are not going to be visible to people," said government spokesman Ghazi Hamad. Under the arrangement, the militia is to be folded into the official Palestinian police force, he said.


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