Palestinian prime minister-designate Ismail Haniya (C) addresses a press conference in Gaza City March 18, 2006.  (Xinhua/AFP)

GAZA, March 18 (Xinhua by Saud Abu Ramadan) -- The Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) announced on Saturday the formation of a new Palestinian government, which it would present to President Mahmoud Abbas on Sunday for approval.

    Hamas Prime Minister-designate Ismail Haneya declared at a press conference in Gaza City that the new cabinet was ready and that he would present it to President Abbas on Sunday evening.

    "I will present the cabinet to President Abbas in Gaza on Sunday night and hold talks with him over the new government,"Haneya said.

    "Our cabinet is ready and includes Hamas members, independents and technocrats," said Haneya, refusing to reveal the choices for specific portfolios before talks with Abbas.

    But Hamas sources revealed earlier that the group would hold key posts in the new government, including the foreign, interior and financial portfolios.

    Noting that Abbas' Fatah movement and two other Palestinian parties had decided not to join the Hamas-led government, Haneya said that Hamas was still waiting for a final official response from the leftist Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) on whether to join the cabinet.

    "We leave the door open for all the Palestinian factions which have not decided on whether to join the government," he said.In addition, Haneya voiced confidence for Hamas' leading rolein the next government.

    "There is no doubt that we will succeed in shouldering our duties and running the Palestinian daily affairs," he said. "The Palestinian people, who trust Hamas, will not starve."

   

Palestinian prime minister-designate Ismail Haniya (C) addresses a press conference in Gaza City March 18, 2006. (Xinhua/AFP)

Meanwhile, the Hamas premier-designate also called upon the international community not to cut off aid to the Palestinian people.

    "Cutting aid will be a punishment to the Palestinian people who practiced democracy in a fair election," he stressed.

    Haneya's announcement came almost four weeks after Abbas formally tasked the group with the establishment of the next government.

    Hamas has held rounds of talks with Palestinian factions,including Abbas' Fatah movement, over the formation of a coalition government, but seems to make little progress.

    Local analysts said that it is unlikely that Hamas will be able to bring partners into its cabinet.

    "I don't think that the PFLP will join the Hamas-led cabinet and it is quite likely that Hamas will have to form the government alone," said Talal Oukal, a Gaza-based Palestinian political analyst.

    Winning the Jan. 25 legislative elections by a landslide, Hamas,which calls for Israel's destruction, has become the dominant faction in the parliament.

    The new Hamas-led cabinet will have to be approved by Abbas before taking office.

    Sources close to Abbas said that the president had no objection to the new cabinet but would urge Hamas to adopt changes to its government platforms.

    Following Hamas' election victory, the Quartet of international mediators-- the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia-- urged Hamas to renounce violence, recognize Israel and accept interim peace deals with Israel.

    Abbas also called upon Hamas to open talks with Israel and abide by previous Palestinian-Israeli agreements.

    But Hamas has so far rejected the demands. Enditem