Hamas and Fatah meet for coalition government

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Source: CCTV.com | 11-13-2006 09:14

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh has held talks with former Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia, who is also a Fatah member. They exchanged ideas on ways to form a unity government. And also how to distribute the 24 portfolios between the two major factions.

The meeting also included other representatives from Fatah and Hamas. Haniyeh noted that the general framework of the government had already been established through meetings with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, the leader of the Fatah party. Haniyeh also expressed his hope the new government would help to "alleviate the sufferings" of the Palestinians. Also on Saturday, Haniyeh said once again that he would be willing to step aside to end sanctions imposed on Palestinians after Hamas took control of the government.

Abbas reelected as Fatah chief

RAMALLAH, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) -- Fatah Revolutionary Council on Sunday overwhelmingly reelected Mahmoud Abbas as chief of the movement and its general leader, official Palestinian sources said.

The sources said that the movement's meeting was held in al-Muqataa, the headquarters of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

The Revolutionary Council of Fatah movement had also decided to form a highest committee to rebuild the movement in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

After late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat passed away two years ago, Farouq al-Qadoumi was elected as the Secretary General of Fatah, where Abbas was named as chief of Palestine Liberation Organization Executive Committee.

Abbas now is the chief of Fatah movement, chief of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) executive committee, and the president of the PNA. Late Arafat had these three titles before he died on Nov. 11, 2004.

Fatah movement, which was the ruling party over the past ten years, was defeated by Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in the Jan. 25th legislative elections held in the Palestinian territories.

Fatah lost the government, while Hamas won the elections and formed the government for the first time since Hamas was established in December 1987.

Tens of thousands of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip commemorated on Saturday and Sunday the two-year anniversary of late leader Yasser Arafat decease.

Editor:Wang Ping