Fatah, Hamas agree to form transitional government Date: 26 / 02 / 2009 Time: 21:04 www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=36076

Cairo - Ma'an - Rival Palestinian factions have agreed to form a new
transitional government that will operate until presidential and
parliamentary elections can be held, a top Hamas leader said on Thursday
evening.

Flanked by officials from 14 different factions at a press conference in
Cairo, Hamas political leader Mussa Abu Marzuq said that they had reached
agreement in principle on forming a transitional government. The factions
are in Cairo in an effort to end nearly two years of Palestinian political
disunity.

Ahmad Qurei, the leader of the Fatah delegation at the Egyptian-brokered
talks, said, "This government could be formed approved by all of the
Palestinian factions or could be technocrat government, or [another form of]
government approved by the committees," referring to the panels overseeing
the specifics of the reconciliation.

"The committees will work in a balanced way through separate meetings for a
specified period of time. there will be outcomes of these committees that
will be implemented immediately," said Qurei.

Abu Marzuq addressed the issue of the reconstruction of Gaza which he said
"will need support, support that is delivered to the people directly."

He also talked about the issue of the Gaza Strip's border crossings: "Egypt
will work on solving the problem of the crossings with Israel, particularly
the Rafah crossing, on which Egypt will work on a new agreement."

Mustafa Al-Barghouthi, the secretary-general of the Palestinian National
Initiative, said "All of the Palestinian factions and together will confront
any Israeli assault."