The political leader of Hamas has said Palestinians will begin a third intifada - or uprising - if a political route to a Palestinian state within 1967 borders is not found within six months.

"If our demands are not met, the Palestinian people will close all political files and launch a third intifada," Khaled Meshaal said in Cairo on Saturday.

"We give the international community six months for real political horizons... There is a historic opportunity for a Palestinian state within 1967 borders."

Meshaal had been meeting Egyptian officials on the formation of a Palestinian unity government by Hamas and its rival, Fatah.

Discussing Meshaal's talk about a third intifada, Walid Batrawi, Al Jazeera's Ramallah correspondent, said Palestinians are unlikely to back a new uprising.

"On the ground Palestinians have suffered much. Palestinians are looking for a just peace not going to a third intifada when they have no resources for resistance," he said.

Meshaal was upbeat on the prospects for an agreement on a government with Fatah saying that "good strides" had been made, but "more time" would be needed.

The two sides also discussed a potential prisoner-swap deal with Israel over the release of a captured Israeli soldier.

Hamas has said it wants the release of more than 1,000 prisoners in return for the soldier.

Israel has occupied the West Bank and Gaza since 1967.

PHOTO CAPTION

Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal speaks at a news conference in Damascus November 8, 2006. (Reuters)