Hamas PM says will reject moves to oust government

GAZA, Oct 20 (Reuters) Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas today said he would reject any moves by President Mahmoud Abbas to oust his government, warning such steps would not ease tensions that have stirred fears of civil war.

Haniyeh said it would be pointless for Abbas to fire the government, suggesting any emergency administration the president appointed would not get the approval of parliament, where Hamas has an absolute majority.

Abbas has hinted he might fire the Hamas government after efforts to form a unity cabinet foundered over the Islamist movement's refusal to soften its stance toward Israel. ''All you have here are options that have no aim but to remove Hamas from government. The wheel of history will not go backward,'' Haniyeh told worshippers at a mosque in Gaza.

''All these options will not achieve stability and calm and will not represent a way out of the crisis.'' Haniyeh did not threaten any direct action to oppose Abbas, but his comments could affect efforts to ease tensions that have spilled over into clashes between Hamas and Abbas's Fatah faction, killing 19 people this month.

Abbas, a moderate who seeks a negotiated peace with Israel, said this week he had to make a decision soon on the government's fate.

He has not explicitly identified his options but his aides have said he might call fresh elections, appoint an emergency cabinet or hold a referendum to let the Palestinian people decide what to do.

Haniyeh said Abbas had no right under law to call early elections or form an emergency government.

Palestinians had hoped a unity government would lead to a lifting of crippling Western sanctions that were imposed on Hamas when it assumed office in March for refusing to recognise Israel and renounce violence.

Hamas took power after scoring a surprise win over Fatah in parliamentary elections in January.

Earlier, officials from Hamas and Fatah pledged to take steps to end internal violence during overnight talks brokered by neighbouring Egypt.

Reuters BDP GC1806