BEIJING, Feb. 22 (Xinhuanet) -- Ismail Haneya, Hamas candidate for Palestinian prime minister, said on Tuesday that he had officially received the letter of appointment from President Mahmoud Abbas to form a new cabinet, while Egypt asked the United States to give Hamas time to "evolve."

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas hands over an official nomination document to Hamas' Ismail Haniyeh the new PM, for the formation of his new government Feb. 21. (Xinhua/Reuters)

    "We are determined to continue with these contacts (with all political parties and factions) until we form a national unity government," Haneya told reporters following a two-hour meeting with Abbas at the latter's office in Gaza City.

    "We want to form a national unity government that gains the confidence of the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) and this government would shoulder the responsibility for our people," Haneya noted.

    Azzam al-Ahmed, head of Fatah movement in the PLC, arrived in Gaza from the West Bank to hold talks with Hamas leaders on Wednesday.

    Haneya said Hamas would have a comprehensive dialogue with Fatah with open minds.

    "We would present everything on the table during the dialogue with our Fatah brothers," he said. "We are very much interested in achieving the political partnership."

    "We hope that we will reach an agreement with Fatah movement and form a large national unity Palestinian cabinet," Haneya said.     

    In Cairo, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit said it would be premature to cut off international aid for the Palestinian government, even if Hamas is at its helm.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (L) and Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Abul Gheit give a joint press conference in Cairo. (AFP)

    "We should give Hamas time. I am sure that Hamas will develop, will evolve. We should not prejudge the issue," Gheit said during a press conference with U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who was on a Middle East tour to persuade Washington's Arab allies to step up pressure on Hamas.

    "We support the (Palestinian) Authority and the authority is in the service of the Palestinian people, and then we have to give them time to develop their own ideas," Eheit added.

    Russia, a member of the quartet mediating for peace in the Middle East, also said it will try to persuade Hamas to renounce violence and recognize Israel's right to exist when holding talks with the group in March.

    "It is too early to speak of the prospects for the upcoming talks," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying. "We are going to try and persuade Hamas to accept the principles adopted by the quartet, which include the recognition of Israel's right to exist and steps to abandon violence."

    Lavrov, who earlier said Russia hopes that Hamas will become a "legitimate and useful part" of the Middle East peace process, urged Hamas to realize its responsibility for the future of the Palestinian people.

    Also on Tuesday, Israeli Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said he did not rule out the possibility of holding peace talks with the Palestinians despite the decision to refrain from contacts with a Hamas-led Palestinian government.

    "The chances of reaching a quick agreement with the Palestinians are smaller now that Hamas is in charge, but the hopehas not disappeared and I am responsible for both things -- the battle against Hamas and maintaining hope and the chance to reach an agreement," Olmert was quoted by local newspaper Ha'aretz as saying.

    He said that for the time being, coordination between Israel Defense Forces and the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) still continued, but Israel would review this practice if Hamas takes control of the PNA's security forces. Enditem