RAMALLAH, Feb. 16 (Xinhuanet) -- The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) intended to name Gaza-based senior leader Ismail Haneya as the new Palestinian prime minister, sources said on Thursday.

    The sources said that although no final decision on the prime minister nominee was made, all the signs and tendencies showed that Haneya would be chosen for the top government post.

    In addition, the sources confirmed that Azeez Dweik, a Hamas leader from the West Bank city of Ramallah, was elected by Hamasas the new speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council. Hamas, whose charter calls for Israel's destruction, is expected to formally take control of the parliament on Saturday when the newly-elected legislature is sworn in.

    Saturday's session will elect a new speaker, two deputies and a secretary.

    Winning the Jan. 25 parliamentary elections, Hamas is expected to be asked to form the next Palestinian government. Haneya, who headed the Hamas list in the January polls, is seen as a pragmatist. Enditem