The Islamic Hamas movement on Wednesday denied reports that rival Palestinian factions will sign a reconciliation and unity deal next month.

"The reports that the agreement will be signed on April 4 are untrue," said Fawzi Barhoum, a spokesman based in the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, adding "the dialogue is still in its early phases; the first round has ended and we are waiting to start a new round of talks."

The first round of the Egyptian-sponsored dialogue ended last week and the Palestinian factions agreed on forming a transitional government and holding parliamentary and presidential elections by January 2010.

Barhoum said the coming round of talks will focus on reaching an agreement on three issues: the program of the government, the reforming of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and the politically-motivated arrests that Fatah conducts against Hamas people in the West Bank while Hamas conducts against Fatah supporters in the Gaza Strip.

The government is sought to replace Hamas' administration of the Gaza Strip and the western-backed government of the West Bank that President Mahmoud Abbas formed in 2007 after his forces lost control of the Gaza Strip.

Barhoum said the date to start the second round of the dialogue was not yet set. "The preparations for the second meetings are subject to the host country (Egypt)."

Meanwhile, a Hamas official Ali Baraka revealed that the U.S. was intervening in the dialogue. "America puts pressure regarding the political arrests in West Bank: they say these detentions are part of the security plan against the terrorist elements."

He added that Washington also stipulates that the upcoming government must recognize "the Israeli occupation," stressing that Hamas rejects this condition.