Islamic Hamas movement on Sunday expressed support for reconciliation talks with rival Fatah, showing rare willingness to accept elections and give up key portfolios.

"Hamas has no veto on presidential and parliamentary elections despite our large majority at the parliament," said Khalil al-Hayya, a Hamas official based in Gaza.

"We support the dialogue and we will be ready to abandon sovereign and important ministries under a national unity government," he added.

However, al-Hayya said that President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement should take similar steps to boost the unity.

Egypt succeeded to launch an inter-Palestinian dialogue late last month in an attempt to overcome the split after Hamas routed pro-Abbas forces and seized control of the Gaza Strip in 2007.

The dialogue will first focus on forming a unity government replacing the two illegal administrations: Hamas' government in Gaza and acting Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad's cabinet that rules the West Bank.

Meanwhile, Hamas rejected statements by Abbas who said that any upcoming Palestinian government must demonstrate commitment to resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through negotiations that lead to establishing a Palestinian statehood alongside Israel.

"This condition may ruin the chances of reaching a national unity government and we reject any such preconditions," said Ayman Taha, a Hamas spokesman.