Abbas holds talks with Hamas

Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas has held talks with Hamas founder Sheikh Ahmed Yassin ahead of a possible Israeli decision today to release more jailed Palestinians.

Political sources said the Israeli Cabinet would consider at its weekly meeting freeing hundreds of prisoners. But with an estimated 5900 to 8000 Palestinians in custody, such a move would fall short of satisfying militants' demands.

A ceasefire which the militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad declared a week ago along with Abbas' Fatah faction could be at stake.

Abbas and Yassin met for the first time since the reformist Prime Minister took office three months ago.