Abbas wants unity gov without Fayyad

Weeks of secret talks has pushed reconciliation between Palestinian factions far enough to form a unity government, a Palestinian official said. President Mahmoud Abbas was expected to call for the formation of a Fatah-Hamas unity government in a speech Wednesday in Ramallah marking the anniversary of Palestinian "independence day," The Jerusalem Post said. The decision to form a unity government culminates weeks of secret talks in Cairo between the two factions, the official told the Post. The official refused to comment on reports the future government will exclude Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad. Fatah officials told the Post, Hamas' refusal to accept Fayyad as the head of the future government created major difficulties and prevented reconciliation. Fayyad Tuesday told the al-Quds newspaper Fatah and Hamas leaders would soon have to choose his replacement, the Palestinian News Network reported Wednesday. "While I refuse in the utmost degree that I am the one hindering the reconciliation, I call on the different parties to choose a new Prime Minister of Palestine," Fayyad was quoted as saying. Abbas is expected to discuss the formation of a unity government in a meeting with Hamas leader Khaled Mashaal in Cairo Friday, Haaretz said. Palestinian sources told Haaretz the sides have agreed to hold elections in May and plan to establish a caretaker government in the coming weeks that will exclude Fayyad. A reconciliation agreement signed by Fatah and Hamas officials in Cairo in May failed to achieve a breakthrough.