CAIRO, August 19, 2008 (AFP) - Egypt will begin a series of talks with rival Palestinian factions next week with the aim of eventually hosting an intra-Palestinian meeting, the state-owned press reported on Tuesday.

Al-Ahram, quoting a 'informed source', reported that the factions will begin arriving in Cairo next week and will hold seperate talks with Egyptian officials.

The talks are aimed at bringing together the factions which have been at odds since the Islamist movement Hamas violently seized control of the Gaza Strip in June last year, ousting Fatah forces loyal to Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas.

The meetings are aimed at 'defining a common position in order to get out of the current crisis, and to put an end to divisions and unify Palestinian ranks,' the source said.

'When all the bilateral talks are finished, Egypt will then issue an invitation for a comprehensive dialogue in Cairo,' the source said.