Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement on Monday urged Arab countries and the international community to press for lifting the siege on the Palestinian people.

"The Arab and international role must contribute to lift the siege," Fatah spokesman Maher Meqdad told reporters in Gaza.

Expressing reservation on an imminent lift of the embargo, Meqdad denounced that it would not be lifted quickly "because Israel and the United States are blocking some international efforts by the Russians and Europeans who encourage the idea of removing sanctions on our people."

Meqdad, meanwhile, forecast some difficulties to be faced by the upcoming Palestinian national unity government, saying that the way of the new government will not be well-paved as the U.S.- led West insists that the government must abide by conditions of Quartet mediators.

Leaders of rival Fatah and Hamas movements signed on Feb. 8 an agreement in the Saudi city of Mecca on forming a national unity government aimed at ending infighting and lifting international sanctions on the Hamas-led government for its refusal to recognize Israel and renounce violence as required by the Quartet.

However, the United States and Israel remained cautious on the deal, insisting that the future Palestinian government must accept all three international conditions: renouncing violence, recognizing Israel and accepting past peace accords.

The Mecca deal contains a vague promise to "respect" previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements, but does not specifically recognize Israel's right to exist.

Concerning the new government, Meqdad said Fatah and Hamas will meet soon to discuss results of Prime Minister designate Ismail Haneya's talks with Palestinian factions.

He added that Fatah has launched internal talks to choose its ministers for the new government, including the post of deputy prime minister.

Source: Xinhua