Thursday January 29 11:47 AM EST Moslem Militant Group Says Considering Truce CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt's largest Moslem militant group said it was considering a positive response to a call by its jailed leaders for a ceasefire in its struggle to overthrow the government. The Gama'a al-Islamiya (Islamic Group), in a statement faxed to Reuters on Thursday, said it was united despite contradictory viewpoints put forth under its name recently. Six leaders of the group, jailed for their role in the 1981 assassination of president Anwar Sadat, urged their followers in July to unilaterally halt attacks. The other six leaders on the group's executive council, who live in exile, rejected the truce call and raised doubts about its authenticity. Attacks have continued since then and in November 58 foreign tourists and four Egyptians were killed in Luxor. "After its sources confirmed the attribution of the call to the historical leadership...the Gama'a Shura (executive) Council abroad is seriously studying a positive response to that call," the statement said. "It will be announced in due time." A day after the Luxor attack the Gama'a, which took up arms in 1992 to topple the government and set up a purist Islamic state, claimed responsibility. A later statement said to be issued by its media liaison, Usama Rushdi, tried to distance the group from the attack, saying members had acted without consulting their leaders. "The group, thanks to God, is strong and united...and differences in viewpoints which have emerged recently, will not affect its unity and strength," the statement said. "The Gama'a accepted Usama Rushdi's apology for breaking organisational rules, regarding expression of opinion and decision-making," it added. About 1,200 people, mainly militants and police, have been killed in the violent campaign.
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