The government on Wednesday said recent talks with Hamas mainly focused on security-related issues but their scope could be expanded once these issues are aptly addressed, a senior official said.

"The meetings between Director General of the Jordanian Intelligence Department [Lt. General Mohammad Dahabi] and the Hamas movement aimed to address outstanding issues," between the two sides, Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications Nasser Judeh said.

The meetings will continue between both sides to reach positive results, said Judeh during his monthly meeting with media representatives.

"The two sides are keen to continue their meetings in order to address issues related to security; however, the negotiations will include other topics once these issues are solved," he added.

Earlier this month, Zaki Bani Rsheid of the Islamic Action Front told Agence France-Presse that Dahabi had secret talks with Syria-based Hamas politburo member Mohammed Nazzal in Amman in July.

Relations between Jordan and Hamas have been rocky since 1999, when the authorities barred Hamas politburo chief Khaled Mishaal and three other leaders from conducting activities as members of a non-Jordanian organisation. The four left Jordan as a result.

Ties soured in 2006 after Amman charged members of the group with having smuggled arms into the Kingdom from neighbouring Syria.