Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister-designate
Ismail Haneya ended their meeting midnight Sunday without
announcement of the expected national unity government.
However, the two leaders agreed to continue talks on Monday,
said Ghazi Hamad, spokesman for the Hamas-led caretaker
government.
Hamas denied that there were obstacles in the meeting, saying
that "There are no obstacles and the atmosphere was very
encouraging."
"During the meeting, some points were agreed upon... even the
Interior Minister post will not be an obstacle," he added.
Meanwhile, Nabil Abu Rudaina, spokesman for Abbas, also denied
any "serious problem" during the meeting, pledging that the talks
will be resumed Monday.
"But the matter needs some days or no more than a week," said
Abu Rudaina.
Hamas handed over its minister candidates list to Haneya on
Saturday, a day before Abbas-Haneya meeting, while Fatah did not
announce its list.
Before Sunday's meeting, Palestinian sources at Abbas
headquarters said that Abbas and Haneya would discuss the
nomination of the key cabinet posts of interior minister and deputy
prime minister.
However, Abbas and Haneya failed to reach a result on these two
posts during Sunday's meeting.
The two rival movements Hamas and Fatah agreed in Saudi city of
Mecca last month to form a unity government in a bid to end
international siege on the Palestinians.
However, the formation of the unity government has been in a
tough talks among Palestinian factions since the Hamas-led
government resigned on Feb. 15.
(Xinhua News Agency March 5, 2007)
