Abu Mazen meets Hamas

Palestinian Prime Minister Abu Mazen may meet President Bush

Palestinian Prime Minister Abu Mazen has held his first talks with leaders of the militant group Hamas.

The talks in Gaza come as the new Palestinian leadership is facing increasing pressure to disarm militant groups.

Abu Mazen - a moderate - has said he favours a dialogue with militants to stop them carrying out attacks against Israel.

There are also reports that the Palestinian prime minister and his Israeli counterpart Ariel Sharon may meet US President George W Bush.

Mr Bush is planning to travel to Europe next week, and could go on the Middle East.

The United States is trying to gain support for the so-called roadmap, an international peace plan that calls for an immediate end to violence and a Palestinian state by 2005.

The militant group Islamic Jihad says it has also been invited to meet Abu-Mazen in the coming days.

Islamic Jihad and another militant group, the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, said they carried out the latest suicide bombing on Monday.

LATEST SUICIDE BOMBINGS

Saturday, 17 May: Two Israelis killed in Hebron

Sunday, 18 May: Seven bus passengers killed in Jerusalem

Sunday, 18 May: Second Jerusalem attack kills bomber only

Monday, 19 May: Three soldiers hurt in Gaza bombing

Monday, 19 May: At least three people killed in Afula attack

History of bomb blasts

Two security guards were killed at a shopping mall in northern Israel.

There have been four other suicide attacks against Israel in the past week.

Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon wants Abu Mazen to disarm and dismantle militant groups.

But Abu Mazen says the only way he can deal effectively with the militants is to undermine their popular support by delivering concessions from Israel.

On Wednesday, Abu Mazen postponed a visit to the northern Gaza Strip, after Israeli tanks took up positions in the area.

He had planned to visit the town of Beit Hanoun, where the Israeli army has been operating since last week, with the aim of stopping Palestinian militants firing rockets at nearby Israeli targets.