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Rival Palestinian Factions Agree on Forming Interim Government

   VOA News  April 27, 2011
   Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, right, and Palestinian
   Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, left, March 18, 2007 (file
   photo)

Photo: AP

   Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, right, and Palestinian
   Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, left, March 18, 2007 (file
   photo)

   The rival Palestinian Fatah and Hamas movements have agreed to form a
   single interim government and a plan to hold general elections.
   Egyptian and Palestinian officials announced the agreement on Wednesday
   which resulted from Egyptian-mediated talks in Cairo.
   The Associated Press quotes officials who say the plan calls for
   presidential and legislative elections to be held a year from now.
   Palestinian President Mahmoud Abass's Fatah movement and Hamas have
   been divided since 2007 when Hamas drove Fatah forces out of Gaza.
   Hamas militants currently rule the Gaza Strip. But, reconciliation
   between the two sides has been viewed as crucial in the Palestinian bid
   for statehood.
   In March, thousands of Palestinians rallied in the West Bank and Gaza
   Strip to call for reconciliation between the two governments.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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