Head of the prisoner's union, Kadoura Fares has told Ma'an in an exclusive statement that he and Dr Mustafa Al-Barghouthi have convened for an hour with US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice in the American consulate on Wednesday.

The Palestinian National Initiative today called for an immediate end to in-fighting between Fatah and Hamas ‘security’ forces, which saw 9 killed, including a 15-year-old boy, and at least 70 wounded in the Gaza Strip yesterday, and in which the Council of Ministers building in Ramallah was set ablaze by armed supporters of the Fatah movement.

Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) member and head of the Palestinian National Initiative, Mustapha Barghouthi, is pessimistic about the visit of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to the region.

The Palestinian National Initiative has called for immediate end to the terrible events in Gaza, stating that such events can only benefit the Israeli occupation.