Mohammed Dahlan, a senior Fatah lawmaker, said on Tuesday that an agreement has been reached between Hamas and Fatah to rebuild the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO).

"We are also interested to restore the PLO's dignity on the basis of partnership between every party," said Dahlan during an interview with reporters of the local Palestinian media in Gaza city.

Dahlan added that a preliminary meeting for the Palestinian factions would be held in Damascus and Cairo to discuss the reshuffle of the PLO.

Hamas, which will lead the forthcoming national unity government, rejects to join the PLO until it is reformed.

Fatah and Hamas agreed to form the coalition government earlier this month after rounds of talks in Mecca.

"Hamas has reached agreement over a new concept of partnership away from dismissal policy and Fatah has reached a new notion away from domination," Dahlan said.

He also called on the international community to "push for stabilizing this new political system and partnership."

Meanwhile, Dahlan expressed dissatisfaction due to decisions by some factions to refuse to join the unity government, including the Islamic Jihad (Holy War) and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP).

Dahlan asserted that Hamas and Fatah have also agreed to work on lifting international siege on the Palestinians "and present solutions to our people if the government's program failed to overcome the siege."

(Xinhua News Agency February 28, 2007)