Palestinian President Abbas met Syrian president Assad on Sunday briefing him on the Middle East peace process and ways to achieve Palestinian reconciliation.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas met Syrian president Bashar Assad on Sunday briefing him on the Middle East peace process and ways to achieve Palestinian reconciliation.

Abbas was wrapping up a two-day visit to Damascus as part of a tour to Middle East and Asian countries.

Abbas was in the Syrian capital for a two-day visit to brief the Syrian leadership on Palestinian reconciliation efforts.

Abbas said Sunday the rift between his Fatah and Hamas must end.

"No one is happy to see the current divisions continuing," Abbas told reporters in Damascus following a meeting with Syrian President Bashar Assad.

"No one would ever respect us if we go on," he said.

Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal aslo said Sunday "we have reached a formula and we ask God to give it success," he said in Doha, Qatar.

Mashaal said the time is now right because the Americans and Israelis were busy with internal problems. "This is an opportunity God has given us," he said.

After Abbas-Assad meeting, Palestinian Authority chief negotiator Saeb Erakat said that Egypt is now exerting intensive efforts on this matter, noting that a statement from Cairo in this regard will be published soon, and thereafter, there will be a comprehensive meeting with all Palestinian parties involved.

Agencies