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Mideast quartet session preliminarily set for July 16

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CAIRO, July 5 (RIA Novosti) - A meeting of the Middle East quartet of mediators, postponed in June following the Gaza Strip violence, could be held July 16 in a regional country, the European Union's special envoy said Thursday.

Marc Otte told journalists in Cairo that the date could be changed.

According to Egyptian Foreign Minister Aboul Gheit, the final date and venue for the meeting of the UN, U.S., EU and Russia - the four mediators - will be confirmed during consultations, but diplomatic sources said the meeting is likely to be held in Cairo.

The situation in Gaza exploded recently after an ongoing power struggle between Islamist group Hamas and Fatah, which resulted in scores of deaths and the division of Palestinian lands into two parts with Gaza being controlled by Hamas, and the West Bank under the control of President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement.

Following the fighting, Abbas dissolved the national unity government, formed with radical Hamas three months earlier, and formed an emergency Cabinet, which received backing from the international community. Abbas was trying to end an international blockade imposed on the Palestinian territories over Hamas' single-handed rule.

Hamas has refused to recognize Abbas' decision and continues to work in the Gaza Strip, and was involved in securing the release of journalist Alan Johnston Wednesday, who was held by a radical Islamic group for 114 days.

Israel and Western powers consider Hamas a terrorist organization.

Unlike the other members of the Middle East quartet which have backed Fatah, Russia has insisted all Palestinian factions be engaged in the peace process and said dividing Palestinian territories is dangerous.

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