Special report: Hamas-led government takes office

    GAZA, May 25 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian legislator Mohammed Dahlan said on Thursday that the Fatah movement is ready to join the Hamas-led government if Hamas recognizes the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).

    Dahlan also urged Hamas to accept an Arab peace initiativeaimed at ending the Arab-Israeli conflict.

    "Hamas' acceptance of the initiative will secure Arab supportand protection for the Palestinian National Authority," he told the Voice of Palestine.

    "If Hamas recognizes the PLO, Hamas will not be isolated and there will be no internal fighting," he said.

    "Hamas' short experience in governing shows that a single party can not succeed alone in leading the Palestinian people and making them united before Israel's unilateral plan," said Dahlan.

    Hamas formed a government in late March after defeating its arch rival Fatah in the Jan. 25 parliamentary election.

    A fiscal crisis has since occurred due to the West's aid cut-off and an international boycott of the Hamas-led government for its hardline policy.

    Press reports said that Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert gained the U.S. conditional support for the so-called unilateral disengagement from the West Bank.

    Under the plan, Israel is expected to withdraw from parts of the West Bank and retain big settlements in the territories. The plan is supposed to be completed by 2007. Enditem