Palestinian Prime Minister-designate Ismail Haneya reiterated on Monday his expectation that a unity government with President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement would be declared on Saturday.

"I hope that President Abbas announce the national unity government on the coming Saturday," Haneya said during a meeting for the Hamas-led caretaker government in Gaza.

The unity government is being formed according to a power- sharing between Hamas and Fatah signed last month in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

The deal ended months of infighting between the two movements.

In addition to Hamas and Fatah, about six independents will join the government.

The Islamic Jihad (Holy War) movement and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine refused to join the new government. They are the biggest factions after Hamas and Fatah.

Meanwhile, Fatah has officially appointed the head of its parliamentary bloc, Azzam al-Ahmad, to the post of Deputy Prime Minister.

The decision was taken during a meeting for Fatah lawmakers and the Central Committee in West Bank city of Ramallah. President Abbas participated in the meeting.

Source: Xinhua