Egypt says Arab force for Gaza may help stop violence

CAIRO (Reuters) - Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said on Saturday an Arab force for the Gaza Strip could help stop violence there, and the idea should be taken seriously, Egypt's state news agency MENA reported.

But Aboul Gheit, whose country is sponsoring unity talks between rival Palestinian groups, stopped short of directly calling for such a force in the Hamas-controlled territory.

"The presence of Arab forces on the ground can help in preventing the fighting and stopping the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," Aboul Gheit told Egypt's October magazine, according to excerpts that ran on MENA ahead of the magazine piece, due out on Sunday.

"The matter has not been studied yet, but it is an attractive idea that deserves to be taken seriously when we consider that Egypt and the Arab League may play a role in this matter," he added.

Aboul Gheit said the issue of an Arab force for Gaza would only be brought up in Palestinian talks after Palestinians achieved unity and following "appropriate study".

Representatives of rival Palestinian groups have been meeting in Cairo in recent days seeking reconciliation, but officials familiar with the talks said agreement looked unlikely.

Hamas routed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's forces in Gaza in June 2007. In response, Abbas dismissed the Hamas-led government and appointed a new administration in the occupied West Bank where his Fatah group holds sway.

Aboul Gheit's remarks also came as Egypt opened its border crossing on Saturday to allow hundreds of people to leave Gaza, either for humanitarian reasons or because they hold foreign residence permits.

Hamas wants Egypt to open Rafah permanently to ease the Israeli-led blockade on Gaza, but under a U.S.-brokered accord it cannot do so without the consent of Israel and Abbas, whose Fatah group is a Hamas rival.

(Writing by Cynthia Johnston; editing by Robert Hart)