Well-informed Palestinian sources revealed on Sunday that Egypt turned down Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Fatah movement's request to hold its sixth general assembly in Cairo.

The sources told on condition of anonymity the Bethlehem-based Maaan news agency that Egypt denied the request to allow 1,500 Fatah members to hold the movement's sixth general assembly.

Fatah movement is planning to hold its assembly, which has not been held for more than 15 years, to elect new leadership for the movement, mainly members of its central committee and its revolutionary council.

"If Egypt accepted Fatah request to host Fatah general assembly in Cairo, this would make it easy for Fatah members and leaders in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip to attend," said the sources.

A Fatah committee to prepare for the conference had decided to hold it on April 21 either in Jordan or in Egypt. However, the sources said that both countries denied Fatah request.

The sources added that there is a proposal to hold the assembly in the West Bank town of Jericho. However, it is still unclear where the movement would hold its general assembly.

On Wednesday, Hamas lawmaker Mushir el-Masri proposed to Fatah movement to hold its general assembly in the Gaza Strip, saying "Gaza is the safest place for Fatah leadership to hold its conference."

Fatah, found in January 1965, had been chaired by late leader Yasser Arafat who died in November 2004 of a mysterious disease in a hospital in France. Abbas succeeded Arafat and was nominated as the movement's leader.