Hamas says no leading politicians in next govt

Damascus, Nov 10: The Hamas and Fatah Palestinian groups have agreed to exclude prominent politicians from a new unity government they are discussing, a high-level Hamas member said today.

''We are almost done with the arrangements to form a national unity government with membership based on professionalism and merit. No leading political symbols will be in it,'' Izzat al-Rishq, who is a member of Hamas politburo, told sources in the Syrian capital.

The two feuding groups have been trying to form a technocrat unity government, an administration that Palestinians hope could prompt the West to ease sanctions imposed after Hamas took power in March.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas briefly suspended the talks on Wednesday after the deadliest single Israeli attack on Palestinians in four years, when artillery shells killed 18 civilians in Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza.

''Dialogue has resumed and joint teams with Fatah are being formed to work the final details,'' Rishq said yesterday.

A senior aide to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said on Wednesday that a unity government could be imminent.

REUTERS

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