France backs Palestine govt; no movt on sanctions

Paris, Feb 24: France today told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas it would be ''disposed to co-operate'' with a planned government involving Abbas's Fatah and Hamas and seek support for it from other Western powers.

But Abbas, ending a European tour in Paris, received no clear indications the EU would end a blockade that has caused economic hardship in the Palestinian territories. The sanctions were imposed to induce the militant Hamas group to recognise Israel, renounce violence and accept interim peace deals.

''If this government is formed on the basis of the Mecca agreement, I told the Palestinian President France will be disposed to cooperate with it and that our country will also plead in that direction within the European Union and with other partners in the international community,'' French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy told a news conference.

France was among the first Western governments to express support for a Palestinian unity deal signed two weeks ago in Mecca, its enthusiasm in contrast to U.S. scepticism.

Reuters

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