Islamic Jihad group refuses to observe ceasefire agreement with Israel

The Palestinian group Islamic Jihad has announced its refusal to cease fire with Israel and threatens to renew attacks.

According to the Arab Internet paper Al Bavvaba, the office of the group in Gaza issued a statement Saturday, which says: "We remain loyal to the principle of resistance as a strategy to put an end to occupation. We will comply with no agreement unless it is based on this principle."

This statement was made against the background of inter-Palestinian talks on a ceasefire agreement with Israel which are to be continued on Saturday in Cairo. Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei, who arrived in the Egyptian capital from the West Bank, will take part in the talks held among 12 Palestinian groups, including Islamic Jihad and the Hamas movement.

The chief purpose of the talks is to discuss the prospects of reaching agreement on ending anti-Israeli violence actions.

Chief of the Palestinian Autonomy Yasser Arafat said earlier that "the Cairo dialogue is supported by the Middle East Quartet (Russia, the U.S., UN and EU) and the Arab League.