Special report: Internal situation in Palestine     

    CAIRO, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit said his country welcomed the Palestinian emergency government, which was just sworn in on Sunday, the official MENA news agency reported.

    Abul Gheit expressed full support for the new Palestinian government led by Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, wishing the cabinet success under ongoing critical circumstances in the Palestinian territories, said the report.

    The Palestinian emergency government, with 11 ministers under the leadership of Fayyad, was sworn in Sunday in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

    The Egyptian foreign minister called on the Palestinian factions to seek the unity of the Palestinians for the interests of the Palestinian people.

    In addition, Abul Gheit called on Arab states and the international community to offer all possible assistance to the Palestinians and the new government.

    Fayyad was asked to set up the emergency government one day after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday dismantled the Fatah-Hamas unity government, which took office on March 17.

    Abbas dissolved the unity government and declared a state of emergency on the Palestinian territories after Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip following days of deadly infighting between Hamas and Fatah led by Abbas.

Palestinian emergency gov't sworn in

    RAMALLAH, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is swearing in the Palestinian emergency government in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Sunday.

    The official Palestinian Television showed 11 ministers,including two women, took their oath before President Abbas and new Prime Minister Sallam Fayyad one by one with their hand on the Holy Book of Quran. Full story

Abbas installs new cabinet as Hamas rules Gaza

    RAMALLAH, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas signed a decree early Sunday to install a new emergency cabinet, confirming Hamas' takeover of the Gaza Strip. Full story