DAMASCUS, Syria, Nov. 14 (UPI) -- Syria expressed support Tuesday for Palestinian efforts to form a long-delayed national unity government comprising rival Hamas and Fatah.
Farouk Kaddoumi, head of the political department at the Palestine Liberation Organization, and Palestinian legislator Mustafa Barghouti, secretary-general of the National Initiative Party who is involved in the Hamas-Fatah dialogue, said after separate talks with Syrian Vice President Farouk Sharaa that Damascus backs an imminent agreement to set up the aspired government.
"Palestinian factions at home have made big steps towards forming a national unity government comprising all political parties and factions," Kaddoumi said.
He pointed to "continuing consultations with Syria" and stressed that "viewpoints converged with regard to the projected government."
Kaddoumi also revealed the "existence of guarantees to lift the embargo" imposed on the Palestinian territories since Hamas formed the government following its landslide victory in general elections last January. The PLO official, however, refused to give any details about the reported guarantees.
Barghouti affirmed that "Syria blesses all steps made so far to form the government of national unity."
He said nationalist Fatah, Islamic Hamas and other Palestinian groups agreed "on seeking to lift the embargo immediately and end the sufferings of the Palestinian people as soon as the new government is formed."
Barghouti described his Monday meeting with Damascus-based Hamas Politburo chief Khaled Mishaal as "positive" during which "all points and clauses of the agreement to form the government were reviewed."
For his part, Sharaa was quoted by the official Syrian News Agency as stressing "the importance of boosting Palestinian national reconciliation to confront Israel's continuing aggressions."
