Abbas to deliver important speech by the weekend: official

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is to deliver "an important speech" by the end of this week, a Palestinian official said on condition of anonymity on Monday.

The speech would outline "practical steps to resolve the political crisis" which has been increasing between Abbas' Fatah party and the governing Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), the official said.

"Abbas will break up the current government and form a new one in agreement with Hamas movement," said the source, adding that the new government would be an interim to prepare for holding early parliamentary elections by middle of 2007.

In addition, the source noted that Hamas, which took power in late March, was considering recognizing the Arab peace initiative which in return recognizes Israel.

However, Hamas movement reiterated its stance not to recognize Israel and the chief of Hamas lawmakers Yehia Mussa told reporters that President Abbas has no right to call for early elections.

Mussa also termed initiatives and new deals proposed for the Palestinians to settle the ongoing political and financial crises as illegal and "constitutional coup against the Palestinian political system."

Accusing Fatah movement of evading the Prisoners' document of National Accordance, Mussa called on Abbas to go on the way of forming a national unity government based on the document.

All Palestinian factions have agreed on the document which calls for a coalition government and an independent Palestinian statehood alongside Israel.

Abbas and Hamas have agreed on a moderate political program of forming a coalition government to replace the incumbent Hamas-led one aimed at lifting an international siege on the Palestinian territories but all talks have stalled as Hamas has repeatedly refused to recognize Israel, a key Western demand.

Source: Xinhua