Global General

Special

Newsmaker

Asia Pacific

America

Middle East

Europe

Africa

Report: New Palestinian govt to be declared soon

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-05-10 21:35

GAZA -- A new Palestinian government will be declared by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas within 24 hours, a local news agency reported on Sunday.

"President Mahmoud Abbas will announce the members of the upcoming government in the coming 24 hours," sources told the Gaza-based Ramattan news agency.

Related readings:  Palestinian president to form new government  FM urges Israel, Palestine to peace talks  Palestine seeks strong Security Council message for Israel  Palestinian unity talks start in Cairo  Israel not bound by 'two states' deal: New FM

The government will be headed by the current caretaker Prime Minister Salam Fayyad and will reflect an expansion and modification of his former government that Abbas asked to form in June 2007, the sources said.

Earlier in the day, Minister of Labor and Planning of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) interim government Samir Abdullah said that Abbas is expected to authorize the expansion or reshuffle of the interim government in two days.

Fayyad's current government was formed after Hamas routed pro-Abbas forces and seized control of the Gaza Strip in 2007.

Hamas did not recognize Fayyad's government since it did not obtain confidence from the Hamas-dominated parliament. Hamas also dismissed the upcoming Fayyad-led government for excluding the Islamic movement which won the parliamentary elections in 2006.

The new government would be announced a few days before Hamas and Abbas' Fatah movement resume their reconciliation talks in Cairo, scheduled on May 16.

Hamas said this government was considered a blow to the dialogue.