A senior Islamic Hamas movement leader on Wednesday said his movement rejects recent proposals related to forming a highest committee instead of forming a unity government.

Earlier reports said that rival Fatah and Hamas movements accepted the idea of forming a highest committee of coordination between Hamas government in Gaza and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad in the West Bank.

The report said the proposal was to form a highest committee that acts as a government of confederacy for both Gaza and the West Bank, as an alternative to forming a national unity government.

Gaza Hamas leader Ismail Radwan told reporters that Hamas movement did not accept such a proposal, adding "Hamas wants the dialogue to lead to a national unity and not to search for alternatives that keep the current rift."

Meanwhile, Radwan denied that his movement has received an official Egyptian invitation to attend the third round of inter-reconciliation dialogue in Cairo on April 23 with rival Fatah movement.

Chief Fatah negotiator Ahmed Qurei has earlier stated that the third round of dialogue between Fatah and Hamas will start in Cairo on April 23 to overcome differences over forming a unity government.

Egypt has been mediating between the two movements to end their rift and disputes and form a government that unifies the two territories. Right now there are two separate governments, one in Gaza and one in the West Bank.

The major argument between the two groups is on the political platform of the new government, on whether this government would be committed to the international requirements, mainly the recognition of Israel.

Hamas insisted on forming a unity government, but said it may accept a government without a political platform that works only on reconstruction of Gaza and preparing for the elections.