Haniyeh and Abbas meet, spokesman on progress

(25 Jun 2006) 1. Wide shot exterior of presidential compound 2. Policemen outside of building 3. Hamas representatives getting into elevator 4. Wide shot of photo op with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (right) and Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh (left) 5. Close up Mahmoud Abbas 6. Close up Ismail Haniyeh 7. Wide shot Haniyeh (right), Palestinian Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar (centre) and Finance Minister Said Siyam (left) 8. Fatah representatives Mohammed Dahlan (right) and Rawhi Fatouh (left) 9. Wide shot Abbas and entourage leaving building, spokesman Nabil Abu Rdeneh approaching the media 10. SOUNDBITE: (English) Nabil Abu Rdeneh, Spokesman for Mahmoud Abbas "The discussion was very clear and obvious. The President insisted that the truce should be sustained and the rockets should be stopped immediately so that we cannot give Israel any pretext to continue their escalation towards the Palestinian people. There is a good opportunity that we might achieve positive things in the coming days. According to the referendum the dialogue will continue. If we don't reach an agreement, we will run for a referendum. But so far the dialogue is doing well and the negotiations are going well as well." 11. Pan right Abu Rdeneh and aide walking off STORYLINE: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas met for about two hours late on Saturday, but failed to reach a deal. Participants said the talks were positive, and more meetings were scheduled for Sunday. "There is a good opportunity that we might achieve positive things in the coming days," said Nabil Abu Rdeneh, a top aide to Abbas. "If we don't reach an agreement, we will run for a referendum. But so far the dialogue is doing well and the negotiations are going well as well," he said. Earlier in the day, officials from both sides had expressed optimism that a deal would be reached. But officials from Abbas' Fatah party said the president was uncomfortable with Hamas' positions on certain key issues. "The President insisted that the truce should be sustained and the rockets should be stopped immediately so that we cannot give Israel any pretext to continue their escalation towards the Palestinian people," Rdeneh said. Abbas is expected to be in Gaza until Tuesday before returning to his West Bank headquarters. Abbas has been pressuring Hamas to accept a proposal that implicitly recognises Israel or face a July 26 referendum on the matter. The plans key points include limiting Palestinian attacks on Israelis to land captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast War, formation of a unity government, and authorising Abbas to conduct negotiations with Israel. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...