DAMASCUS (AFP) -- Hamas's exiled political chief Khaled Meshaal said his Palestinian Islamic resistance movement was ready for dialogue with Fatah, during a meeting on Monday with Syria's foreign minister.

The talks between Meshaal and Foreign Minister Walid Moallem, the state news agency SANA reported, were focused on “the call by president (and Fatah leader Mahmud) Abbas on a resumption of dialogue” on the basis of a Yemeni mediation.
The Hamas chief said his movement was “ready to take part in dialogue to achieve reconciliation and defend the national and legitimate rights of the Palestinian people.”
SANA also reported that Syria hailed Abbas's initiative and offered its help to launch the dialogue and make it a success.
On Sunday, Saudi King Abdullah and Abbas agreed at a meeting in the Saudi city of Jeddah that the Arab League should oversee truce talks between Fatah and Hamas, a Palestinian diplomat said.
Abbas last week called for dialogue with Hamas.
Islamic resistance movement has responded favorably to Abbas's overture under a Yemeni-brokered deal which was struck in March to open direct talks between Hamas and Fatah, raising hopes of reconciliation.