(AP/Washington Post) Mark Lavie - The militant Islamic group Hamas moved closer to controlling the Palestinian government Wednesday, calling a special session of parliament to approve its new Cabinet despite objections from PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas over its refusal to recognize Israel. Abbas plans to state his complaints but in the end will give his blessing to the new Hamas governing team, an official said. Incoming Palestinian Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh is forming a cabinet with 24 Hamas activists after no other party agreed to join. Incoming Foreign Minister Mahmoud Zahar said the debate over Hamas' governing program was over. "Nobody can make demands on us at this moment," he said.
2006-03-23 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive