Special report: Hamas-led cabinet takes office

    GAZA, May 9 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian Hamas-led government asked the Quartet Committee convening in New York on Tuesday to reconsider its decision to cut off financial aid to the Palestinians.

    Prime Minister Ismail Haneya made the call shortly before he started the fifth cabinet meeting in Gaza.

    The Quartet, which comprises of the United Nations, the United States, Russia and the European Union, is meeting in New York on Tuesday to discuss a response to the Hamas-led Palestinian government, which is deep in a financial crisis. Due to Hamas rejection to recognize Israel and renounce violence, members of the Quartet suspended financial support to the Palestinians after Hamas took office in late March. The Quartet, which has been a long-time peace mediator over the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, backed a two-state solution outlined in the road map peace plan.

    However, the road map which was put forward in 2003, has been badly stalled due to endless violence.

    Chief Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat said that the Palestinian government is expecting a new timetable to implement the peace plan.

    "It's still early to expect so much in the Quartet convention, however, there are serious bids to fix a new deadline for implementing the roadmap," Erekat was quoted by Voice of Palestine as saying. Enditem