Qatar agrees to host Hamas political leaders

Leaders of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas will leave Syria and relocate to the Gulf state of Qatar, al-Hayat daily reported Saturday.

Qatar has agreed to host the politburo, led by Khaled Meshaal, after Hamas sent a request, but has refused to host the group's military wing, DPA reported.

The London-based daily reported that Jordan and Egypt had rejected a similar request, though Egypt has allowed Hamas to open a bureau.

The group's political leaders have been based in Syria since 1999.

The report comes after representatives from Hamas and Fatah announced in Cairo on Wednesday their intention to reconcile after a four-year bitter and at times violent rift that has seen Hamas administer the Gaza Strip and the West Bank under the control of the Fatah dominated Palestinian Authority.

It also comes amid a bloody crackdown on anti-government protesters in Syria that has left more than 450 killed since mid- March.