Party leaders to hold unity talks in Cairo
Published today (updated) 13/06/2012 19:13
http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=495092

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Palestinian leaders will meet in Cairo early next week
to resume reconciliation talks, Fatah official Ashraf Joma said Wednesday.

Moussa Abu Marzouq, deputy chief of Hamas' politburo, and Azzam Ahmad, the
head of Fatah's reconciliation delegation and Egyptian intelligence
officials will attend the meeting, Joma told Ma'an.

Palestinian National Initiative chief Mustafa Barghouti and Islamic Jihad
leader Khaled al-Batsh were also invited, Joma added.

Hamas and Fatah signed a reconciliation agreement in May 2011 and pledged to
form a unity government.

The party leaders will discuss the new government, which will have a
six-month mandate to prepare for elections, oversee the reconstruction of
Gaza, the implementation of the reconciliation agreement and the
reunification of state institutions.

President Mahmoud Abbas and Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal are expected to meet
in Cairo on June 20 to select cabinet ministers for the interim
administration.

Joma said the new government will be announced at the presidential
headquarters in Ramallah, where 19 new cabinet ministers will be sworn in.