Special report: Internal situation in Palestine

    MECCA, Feb. 8 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian factions Hamas and Fatah on Thursday agreed on ministerial posts of a national unity government, a well-informed source close to Hamas told Xinhua.

    The sources said on condition of anonymity that the two rival movements agreed on the sharing of portfolios in the new government.

    The source said that it was agreed that Hamas would get seven portfolios, while Fatah would take six portfolios.

    In addition to the Prime Minister post, Hamas would get the ministries of education, al-Waqf (Islamic property), labor,municipal affairs, sports and youth, Justice and communication.

    Fatah would get health, social affairs, public work,transportation, agriculture and prisoners affairs.

    The source said that both sides also agreed that three independent ministers would be named by Hamas, namely minister of interior, minister of planning and a state minister.

    According to the agreement, Fatah would name two other independent ministers, which are the minister of foreign affairs and a state minister.

    The source added that the other four parliament parties, which are the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), the Third Way and Independent Palestine, would have four other minister portfolios.

    Sallam Fayyad, from the third way party is apparently the one who would be the minister of finance, added the source.