Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (center, R) and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh (center, L) attend the first cabinet meeting of the Palestinian unity government in Gaza March 18, 2007.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    GAZA, March 18 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian Information Minister Mustafa al-Barghouti said on Sunday the first national unity cabinet session has asked the interior minister to begin practical steps to tackle security chaos.

    "The ministers were asked to support the interior minister to speed up procedures to curb disorder," al-Barghouti said in the first statement after he was appointed as the spokesman for the new unity government sworn in late Saturday.

    "We agreed with President Mahmoud Abbas to reactivate the National Security Council which will help unifying security services," said al-Barghouti.

    A year of power struggle between Abbas' Fatah movement and its rival Hamas movement, which defeated the long-dominant Fatah in parliamentary elections, and Western aid embargo have contributed to chaos and disorder in the Palestinian territories.

    On Feb. 8, Hamas and Fatah agreed in Mecca to form a unity government to replace the Hamas-led government that ruled for one year.

    Al-Barghouti said that the new coalition will work to lift siege that the international community imposed on Hamas administration when it refused to recognize Israel or to renounce violence.

    "The ministries are asked to put plans to break the siege and provide economical facilities, food and security."

    Regarding the government's program, al-Barghouti said it "maintains the Palestinian rights and supports stability in the region at the same time."

    He slammed Israel for refusing to deal with the government and urged it to read the platform carefully.

    However, he asserted that the Palestinian government "doesn't work in order to satisfy Israel."

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