Palestinian mainstream movements of Hamas and Fatah are expected to agree to a package deal on forming a coalition government in an imminent meeting in Saudi holy city of Mecca on Tuesday, a senior official said on Monday.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told local Sama news agency that the ruling Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) agreed with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to endorse the details and prospects of establishing a coalition government as a package deal.

The official added that Hamas' readiness to accept an independent interior minister and "respecting" the commitments of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) would pave the way for a successful Mecca talks.

Distributing key portfolios between the governing Hamas and its rival Fatah has obstructed earlier talks to form an internationally-accepted government.

President Mahmoud Abbas will head Fatah delegation to Mecca talks while Prime Minister Ismail Haneya will lead Hamas delegation.

Ismail Radwan, a spokesman for Hamas, asserted on Monday that Mecca talks "must succeed", warning that any failure would negatively affect the Palestinians.

"We are looking to achieve unity in accordance with the Prisoners Document of National Reconciliation," Radwan added.

The document calls for an independent Palestinian statehood alongside Israel and maintains the resistance against the Israeli occupation.

Radwan said the departure of Hamas delegation depends on the opening of Rafah border crossing in the southern Gaza Strip. Since Palestinian militants kidnapped an Israeli soldier last June, Israel has imposed restrictions on opening the terminal.

Mecca talks, announced by Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdel-Aziz, are considered to be decisive and the Palestinian people expect the two factions to reach consensus.

"If they did not agree, this means a new round of violence will spread in Gaza as usual," said Yousef Shurab, a security member.

Source: Xinhua