A Palestinian reconciliation pact due to be signed by rival Hamas and Fatah factions on Oct. 25 in Cairo might be delayed for several weeks, local Nile news reported on Sunday, citing Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit.
   Abul Gheit said Palestinian factions have requested the delay, without disclosing which factions made the requests, Xinhua reported.
   Meanwhile, Azzam al-Ahmad, a member of Fatah's Central Committee, told Xinhua that Egypt has advanced the date of signing the Palestinian reconciliation deal, but did not reveal the new date.
   On Saturday, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said a Hamas delegation visited Cairo and asked for postponing the Palestinian national dialogue, adding that the Egyptian mediators accepted the request.
   A controversial decision by the Fatah-led Palestinian National Authority (PNA) to delay a vote in the UN Human Rights Council on a report on Israel's 22-day war in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip has outraged the Palestinians.
   Hamas led the condemnation against the PNA and President Mahmoud Abbas, accusing them of betrayal.
   The UN Gaza report, authored by South African judge Richard Goldstone, accused both Israel and Hamas of committing war crimes during the massive offensive that killed 1,400 Palestinians and 13 Israelis.     
   Since February, Egypt has brokered several rounds of the reconciliation talks in Cairo, aimed to iron out the rift between Palestinian rival Fatah and Hamas.
   However, little tangible result has come out due to differences on substantial issues related to security, a unity government and the elections.