PALESTINE PM FAYYAD RESIGNS - PRESIDENT ABBAS ASKS HIM TO CONTINUE

President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Salam Fayyad

7th March 2009,
Ramallah

On this Saturday, Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad has plannaed to to resign his post by the end of March to develop unity talks between the two rivals Fatah and Hamas factions. Palestinian President and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas has asked the Prime Minister to continue until the results from Egyptian-sponsored reconcilation talks emerge. He reported to the media that Fayyad has submitted his resignation in order to support and strenghten the Palestinian dialogue on forming a government. Hamas, earlier PM of Palestine has criticized Fayyad for a long time that he is bidding of United States and other Western powers that finance Fayyad's government in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Umbrella Palestine Liberation Organization's executive committee run by President Abbas has favoued Fazzad that his resignation would support unity of the national dialogue for newly emanating Palestine government. But Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum reported that Fayyad resignation was motivated by internal and personal differences and it is not an effort to promote unity of the nation. Hamas was expelled by Western powers and supported Abbas after Hamas won against the powerful Fatah in 2006 Parliamentary election as the factions formed a disagreement of peace talks with Israel with the government alliance.