Palestinian national unity gov't to be announced after Haneya meets Abbas: official

A senior Hamas official Tuesday said that a new Palestinian national unity government will be announced after Prime Minister-designate Ismail Haneya meets President Mahmoud Abbas in Gaza.

Haneya's political advisor Ahmed Yousef said that during their meeting "Haneya and Abbas will draw up the key lines of the upcoming government."

Abbas, who is currently on a European and Arab tour to rally support for Mecca agreement, is expected to return to the Palestinian territories in two days.

Abbas arrived in the United Arab Emirates on Monday, the last stop of his tour abroad, for talks with UAE leaders.

Concerning Abbas' tour, Yousef said it was "successful to promote Mecca deal and the formation of the unity government," adding that Abbas has gotten assurances regarding the lift of the ongoing siege against the Palestinians.

Abbas' Fatah and rival Hamas have agreed to a power-sharing agreement in Mecca to form a unity government in a bid to end political crisis between them and get Western embargo on the Palestinians lifted.

The sanctions were imposed after the Hamas government rejected to meet international demands of recognizing Israel, giving up violence and accepting the peace deals signed in the past between the Palestinians and Israel.

However, other Palestinian factions have criticized the Hamas- Fatah pact and considered it a bilateral deal between the two rivals.

Regarding the new ministers, Yousef said Hamas will keep several ministers in the caretaker government in office, but he declined to give names, asserting the selection of the ministers was subject to efficiency.

Meanwhile, Fatah spokesman Abdel Hakim Awad said his movement has not yet ended the nominations of its ministers, adding that a delegation from Fatah will meet Haneya Tuesday for more talks.

Source: Xinhua