RAMALLAH, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- Deputy Prime Minister of the Hamas-led Palestinian government Nasser al-Sha'er said on Saturday that a new unity government would be formed by the end of November.

    Al-Sha'er told reporters that President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haneya will announce the new government in a public ceremony before the end of November.

    Factions "have agreed on most of outstanding points concerning the number of portfolios every party would get," al-Sha'er said.

    Meanwhile, independent lawmaker Mustafa al-Barghouti told the Voice of Palestine that talks on national unity government have reached an advanced point, adding a new cabinet would be declared by the end of this month.

    Senior officials from Hamas and Fatah will meet again Saturday night in Gaza as part of consultations on the matter.

    Al-Sha'er said the meeting is going to be conclusive.

    Unlike the current government dominated by Hamas, the new one would not be controlled by political factions, said al-Sha'er.