Haneya denies attempts to make Islamic regime in Gaza

Prime Minister Ismail Haneya on Tuesday asserted his movement was not seeking an Islamic emirate in the Gaza Strip.

"The Gaza Strip is part of the big Palestinian homeland and is not a separated entity," Haneya said in a statement faxed to the press.

Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007 after fierce clashes with forces loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas of the secular Fatah movement.

Several Palestinian officials, including Abbas, have been accusing Hamas of building a "dark emirate" in Gaza after it rejected an Egyptian offer aimed at securing national reconciliation.

Haneya issued his statement after he met a group of Egyptian businessmen at his office in Gaza.

The Egyptian proposal was put to restore political ties between Gaza and the Fatah-ruled West Bank and reunite the hostile rivals.

However, Haneya told the Egyptian visitors that Hamas "has taken a strategic decision that there is no substitute to the reconciliation."

Hamas said the Egyptian offer needs adjustments and the Islamic movement has reservations on some of its articles. Egypt refuses to discuss Hamas' reservations while Fatah has accepted the document.