A senior official in Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement has accused the ruling Hamas party of blocking efforts to form a national unity government. 'If Hamas wanted to form a (unity) government, then why did Ismail Haniya keep his post as prime minister and organize a regional tour (scheduled to last until the end of the year)?' Fatah parliamentary whip Azzam al-Ahmad asked during a radio debate with Hamas Information Minister Yousef Rezka. Haniya's tour, his first since taking office, sees him visit several Arab and Muslim countries, including Syria ands Iran. It has been criticised as it comes while Hamas and Fatah are discussing the formation of the mooted unity government. The talks have since been deadlocked.
Information Minister Rezka termed 'illogical' al-Ahmad's calls for the resignation of the prime minister. 'Haniya's resignation is agreed to take place when the talks are completed and the formation of the new government begins,' he said.
Al-Ahmed said Abbas and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) have been holding meetings in Ramallah to discuss options which can be taken to end the deadlock. 'These procedures can begin with a speech by the president and might end with early parliamentary and presidential elections,' he said.