Abbas promises to work with Hamas-led cabinet

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Monday that he would work with new Hamas-led cabinet although he disagreed with the radical group's policy, the Egyptian official MENA news agency reported.

The Palestinian National Authority was committed to supporting Hamas and giving it a full chance to exercise its authority in accordance with the Palestinian Basic Law, Abbas told MENA in an exclusive interview.

"We just want to do what is the best for the Palestinian people, " he said.

"The new government must be given a chance even if its program is different from ours," he said. "We should not put bumps on their way. We should help them with our advice."

Palestinian Prime Minister-designate Ismail Haneya presented on Monday the program of his cabinet to the members of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC).

The PLC will debate the cabinet lineup and the government program before holding a confidence vote which is deemed as a formality since Hamas has an overwhelming majority.

Hamas beat the long-dominant Fatah group led by Abbas in the Jan. 25 legislative elections by winning 74 out of the 132 seats in the parliament.

Source: Xinhua