Hamas in Cairo for security talks

Egypt is discussing plans to train Palestinian police teams in Gaza

A top-level delegation from militant Palestinian group Hamas is in Cairo for talks with Egyptian officials.

It is thought the party will discuss an Egyptian plan to help provide security in the Gaza Strip after Israel's planned withdrawal by the end of 2005.

Cairo has offered to send 200 security advisers to Gaza to train a Palestinian force to keep order after the pullout.

The Hamas delegation is led by the group's political leader Dr Khaled Mashal who is based in Syria.

The BBC's Magdi Abdelhadi, in Cairo, says the Egyptians are clearly worried by the prospect of a power vacuum in the territory.

They do not like the Islamist ideology of Hamas, but they realise that they have to talk to an organisation which may one day emerge as the most coherent and powerful player in the Gaza Strip, after the Israeli withdrawal, our correspondent says.

Militants condemn plan

Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri was quoted by the Reuters news agency as saying: "Each side will seek clarification from the other on a number of Palestinian, regional and international issues.

"The discussion will touch on [Israeli Prime Minister Ariel] Sharon's Gaza plan, roles of Arab countries such as Egypt, and the latest crisis in the Palestinian territories."

Last month 10 leading Palestinian militant groups signed a statement condemning plans for Egypt to help police Gaza after an Israeli pullout.

Signatories to the statement, including Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Fatah, said they also opposed any possible role for Jordan in securing the West Bank.

The groups said proposed security roles for the Arab states wrongly imply "Palestinian people are the problem".

Israel is planning to pull all its 7,000 settlers from Gaza and the troops that protect them as part of a disengagement plan. Israel will maintain control of Gaza's borders, coastline and airspace.