Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Monday ordered his security forces to release most members and supporters of Hamas who were detained due to political reasons in the West Bank, Fatah officials said.

Abdullah Abdullah, a lawmaker from President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah party, told Xinhua that the release process is expected to complete during the coming 24 hours and will include all Hamas activists "except the people who pose a security threat and still have trials underway."

Meanwhile, Azzam al-Ahmad, chief of Fatah parliamentary bloc, said: "This measure comes under the efforts to pave the way for the success of the national dialogue," referring to Egyptian-sponsored talks between Fatah and its bitter Islamic rival.

Earlier, the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) said it had freed 20 Hamas prisoners from its jails in the West Bank where Fatah holds sway.

In 2007, Hamas routed pro-Abbas forces in the Gaza Strip and seized the territory. Since then, the two parties have been cracking down against their political opponents -- Hamas people inthe West Bank and Fatah members in Gaza.

Hamas says up to 750 supporters are held in the West Bank while Fatah says Hamas continues hunting down its partisans, especially the former security employees, in Gaza.

Egypt said it was determined to declare a Palestinian reconciliation by July 7 though Hamas and Fatah did not yet settle all outstanding issues.

(Xinhua News Agency June 22, 2009)