Related: Internal situation in Palestine

    GAZA, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- The ruling Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) denied on Sunday earlier reports that the group would give up the post of prime minister in a new coalition government.

    Spokesman for the Hamas-led government Ghazi Hamad told reporters in Gaza that these reports were "guesswork."

    Pan-Arab newspaper Asharq Alawsat reported that Hamas had agreed to nominate an independent prime minister to lead the upcoming new government of national unity, which would not include Hamas prominent leaders such as the current Prime Minister Ismail Haneya.

    Hamad clarified that "many proposals to form the unity government were presented," adding all suggestions were under talks.

    According to Hamad, talks on forming the new government havemade good progress. "We hope the government would be formed quickly," the spokesman said.

    Hamad also denied another report that President Mahmoud Abbashad threatened Hamas to form a technocrat government if the political parties could not form the national unity one. Mustafa al-Barghouti, an independent lawmaker who was suggested to lead the new government, also described the media reports as "too early."

    However, al-Barghouti said all parties dealt positively with the moves to overcome the current crisis in the Palestinian territories.