¡¡¡¡Special Report: Hamas Forming Palestinian Government

    GAZA, March 5 (Xinhuanet) -- The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) announced on Sunday that it was ready to form a new Palestinian government even if the Fatah movement, the second largest parliament party, decided not to participate.

    Hamas spokesman and lawmaker Mushir al-Masri told Xinhua on Sunday that Hamas was ready to set up a new cabinet even if Fatah refused to join, adding that the group would announce the make-up of the government in the coming weeks.

    In addition, Hamas said earlier that it had finalized political and social administrative programs after consultations among its leaders based in the Palestinian territories and abroad.

    Hamas' announcement came as Fatah's Revolutionary Council is currently holding intensive talks on whether to join a Hamas-led new cabinet.

    The special Revolutionary Council meeting, which started in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Saturday and was scheduled to last three days, was the first of its kind since the long dominant Fatah was defeated by Hamas in January's legislative elections.

    Holding 74 seats of the 132-member Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC), Hamas has been formally commissioned by President Mahmoud Abbas, who now leads Fatah, with forming the next government.

    A majority of Fatah leaders have voiced opposition to joining the Hamas-led government, preferring to remain in opposition and devote efforts to reforms in preparation for the next general elections.

    Outgoing Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei, member of Fatah's Revolutionary Council, recommended Fatah on Sunday not to join the next cabinet.

    His view was echoed by other senior Fatah leaders, including Mohamed Dahlan and Ahmed Abu Houly, both elected to the new parliament.

    Abu Houly said in Gaza that Fatah should not join the Hamas-led government since Hamas rejected to renounce violence and destruct Israel.

    A statement is expected to be issued after the Revolutionary Council's meeting, but sources said that the communique would focus on Fatah's rehabilitation following the election defeat and might not give a clear decision on whether to join the cabinet.

    Meanwhile, Hamas prime minister-designate Ismail Haneya said on Sunday that contacts and talks with other Palestinian factions on the formation of the cabinet were still going on.

    He told reporters in Gaza that once the contacts and talks ended, he would officially present the line-up of the new cabinet to Abbas.

    But the Gaza-based Hamas leader refused to disclose candidates for the cabinet portfolios.

    The Ramallah-based al-Ayyam Daily, however, cited sources close to Hamas as saying that Hamas would take control of the interior, foreign, information and finance ministries.

    Mahmoud al-Zahar will become foreign minister, Sa'eed Seyam will head the interior ministry, an unnamed professor at the Islamic University will take the portfolio of finance minister, said the report, without giving further details.

    But Atef Odwan, a Gaza-based senior Hamas leader and lawmaker, dismissed the report as "totally untrue."

    He said that if Hamas failed to set up a national unity government, the group would then form a technocrat cabinet.

    "If other factions and parties, mainly Fatah, are willing to join the cabinet, a national unity cabinet will be set up. If not,Hamas will declare a technocrat cabinet," said Odwan.

    Hamas' efforts to form a new Palestinian government have drawn international limelights as the group has repeatedly rejected international calls to renounce violence, recognize Israel's right to exist and accept previous Palestinian-Israeli agreements.

    Israel has vowed not to negotiate with the Hamas-led Palestinian government, putting more uncertainty to the Mideast
peace prospects. Enditem