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Palestinian unity deal under way | |
(20 minutes later) | |
Palestinian PM Ismail Haniya has resigned his post and has been asked by President Mahmoud Abbas to form a new national unity government. | |
The move came after the pair ironed out last-minute problems from the power-sharing deal sealed last week. | |
Factional fighting between Mr Abbas's Fatah and Mr Haniya's Hamas has claimed more than 90 Palestinian lives between December and this month. | Factional fighting between Mr Abbas's Fatah and Mr Haniya's Hamas has claimed more than 90 Palestinian lives between December and this month. |
Doubts remain as to whether the US will end its boycott of the government. | |
A ban on Western financial aid has crippled the Palestinian Authority since Hamas, which has refused to recognise Israel, won elections in January last year. | A ban on Western financial aid has crippled the Palestinian Authority since Hamas, which has refused to recognise Israel, won elections in January last year. |
Last-minute problems | Last-minute problems |
Mr Haniya tendered his resignation at the meeting with Mr Abbas in Gaza. | Mr Haniya tendered his resignation at the meeting with Mr Abbas in Gaza. |
"Brother Ismail Haniya presented me with his government's resignation and I charged him with forming his new Cabinet," Mr Abbas said. | |
Scores have been killed in factional fighting | |
He said he hoped the new administration would "inaugurate a new Palestinian era in which people live in peace and security". | |
Mr Haniya will have five weeks to get the new Cabinet accepted by the Hamas-dominated parliament. | |
Mr Abbas had called off a national address on Thursday because of last-minute problems over the new power-sharing deal. | Mr Abbas had called off a national address on Thursday because of last-minute problems over the new power-sharing deal. |
Hamas was reportedly unhappy about moves to dissolve a security force that it has established. | Hamas was reportedly unhappy about moves to dissolve a security force that it has established. |
There were also disputes over appointments to key Cabinet posts. | There were also disputes over appointments to key Cabinet posts. |
On Thursday it was unclear whether the US would back the new government. | |
Aides to Mr Abbas said Washington would continue its boycott unless the government met international demands over Israel. | Aides to Mr Abbas said Washington would continue its boycott unless the government met international demands over Israel. |
The aides said the US position had been conveyed by Assistant Secretary of State David Welch in a phone call and in person to Mr Abbas by US consul general in Jerusalem, Jacob Walles. | |
A US state department spokesman said Washington would not make a judgement until the government was formed. | A US state department spokesman said Washington would not make a judgement until the government was formed. |
As part of the power-sharing deal it was reported that Hamas had agreed to respect past Palestinian agreements that recognise Israel. |