Hamas, Fatah agree to prepare to form unity government

Rival Islamic Hamas movement and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah Party agreed in Cairo on Sunday night to prepare to form a transitional unity government, a Hamas official stated, dpa reported.

"Hamas and Fatah signed an agreement in Cairo that includes eight major items, which include allowing the Central Elections Commission to operate in Gaza," said Fawzi Barhoum, Hamas spokesman, in an emailed statement.

He added that in parallel with allowing the CEC to operate in Gaza, "consultations on forming the interim unity government would start for ten days time, then a date for holding the elections will be decided."

According to the agreement signed in Cairo between Fatah official Azzam el-Ahmad and Hamas deputy chief Musa Abu Marzooq, the interim unity government will operate for six months only, said Barhoum.

"Allowing CEC to operate in Gaza, forming the interim unity government and setting up a date for holding the elections will be done in accordance with other Palestinian factions," said Barhoum.

Abbas has refused to from the government until Hamas allows the CEC to operate in Gaza, which he lost after Hamas routed his forces in 2007. Since then, Abbas's rule has been confined to the West Bank.

Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip violently in June 2007 following weeks of infighting with Abbas security forces. Efforts to end the division between the West Bank and Gaza Strip have so far failed.