PFLP to cast vote of nonconfidence for upcoming national unity gov' t

A member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), said on Saturday that it would vote of no confidence on the forthcoming national unity government as talks to form it continued.

"As we are not going to participate in the government, we will not grant it confidence when it is put for voting in the parliament," Khaleda Jarar, a member of the PFLP politburo, told reporters.

The PFLP, a Palestinian faction, which has three members in the 132-seat parliament, attributed decision of boycotting the coming government to "political reasons."

But observers say that it refused to join the coalition as Prime Minister Ismail Haneya offered it one portfolio while the PFLP was hoping to get two.

Talks on forming the national unity government is under way according to a power-sharing pact reached between two mainstream movements of Hamas and Fatah in Mecca, Saudi Arabia earlier this month.

Designate Prime Minister Ismail Haneya of Hamas is to begin the second phase of the talks where the parties are expected to nominate their ministers.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Fatah said meetings with Hamas are going on to resolve outstanding issue.

Source: Xinhua