Egypt/Hamas

Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman is reportedly furious at Hamas leaders and the political head of the movement, Khaled Mashaal, for breaking every agreement signed on reconciliation with Fatah.

A report on the Al Jazeera web site quoted Palestinian sources as saying that Suleiman said the actions of the Hamas leadership had embarrassed Cairo. Suleiman stressed that Egypt will not amend the reconciliation document that it presented to both sides and Hamas has no option but to sign it.

The Egyptian intelligence chief charged that Hamas is serving foreign interests that are not connected to the Gaza Strip or the Palestinian question. Also, an Egyptian newspaper reports Friday that Egypt is building an underground barrier with Gaza. Al Ghamouriya said it was their sovereign right and it would increase pressure on the territory's Hamas leaders.

In an editorial, the state run newspaper said that Egypt has the right to develop the barrier separating it and Gaza and to guarantee that the wall is strong and not subject to collapse.

The editorial is the closest Egypt has so far come to officially confirming it is building the underground barrier to stem smuggling into Gaza through underground tunnels.

The newspaper blamed Hamas for the worsening living conditions in the territory, saying it should have signed an Egyptian brokered reconcilliation deal with Fatah. (23,51)