Abbas Asks Haniyeh Form Unity Gov't

MAKKAH — Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas asked incumbent Premier Ismail Haniyeh to form the new national unity government after his Fatah and ruling Hamas signed a comprehensive deal on the government and its political program.

"In my capacity as PLO chief and Palestinian Authority Chairman, I hereby ask you Ismail Haniyeh to form the new national unity government," according to a presidential degree read out by Nabil Amr, Abbas's media advisor, during a special ceremony hosted by Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdel Aziz.

Abbas called on the future government to respect international law and agreements signed by the PLO.

This came after Abbas and Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal signed a comprehensive deal on forming a government of national unity and reforming the PLO.

The Mecca Declaration crowns two-days of marathon crisis talks in the Muslim holy city.

Hamas and Fatah have been at odds since the former won landslide in the parliamentary elections in January 2006 and formed the government.

The new landmark deal would help to end fighting between the two factions that has killed more than 90 Palestinians since December.

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The two groups have reached a detailed agreement on the composition of the new government, to be made public soon.

"Fatah and Hamas have reached agreement on the division of ministerial posts and on the political program of a national unity government," a Fatah official told Agence France Presse (AFP).

Fatah's Azzam al-Ahmed said Fatah would name a deputy prime minister.

"Eight posts will go to Hamas, six to Fatah, four to other Palestinian parties and five posts for independents, including those of foreign affairs and interior," a Hamas official told AFP.

The crucial post of interior minister will go to an independent to be named by Hamas and approved by Abbas.

"Abbas will choose an independent interior minister from among five names that will be submitted to him by Hamas," added the Hamas source, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The deal will also see former culture minister Ziad Abu Amr nominated as foreign minister and Salam Fayyad as finance minister, a post he has held before.

Crucial for the Palestinians is whether the new deal would be enough to convince Western donors to end a crippling blockade.

Meshaal had said it was vital that any deal reached be respected by world powers.

"The international community must respect our accord, recognize our Palestinian reality and deal with it seriously," he said.

Hamas formed a government after trouncing Abbas's long-dominant Fatah in parliamentary elections early in 2006.

It is anxious not to surrender the power it won at the ballot box without securing an end to the Western aid boycott that has crippled its government.

Both the European Union and the United States froze all direct aid to the cash-strapped Palestinian Authority when the Hamas-led government assumed office in March.

Since then, the Palestinian Authority has been practically bankrupt, and tens of thousands of Palestinian civil servants have gone unpaid, greatly affecting the livelihood in the occupied Palestinian territories.