Fayyad to form new government

RAMALLAH, West Bank, Feb. 14 (UPI) -- Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas asked Prime Minister Salam Fayyad to form a new government, sources told Xinhua.

Palestinian sources told the Chinese news agency Monday the new government will implement a series of steps to promote national unity.

"The government will pave the way for holding local, parliamentary and presidential elections," the sources told the news agency.

The move was rejected by Hamas, which called it "illegal and unaccepted."

Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum called on the Palestinian people not to cooperate with the new government, Ynetnews.com said.

Fatah's Central Committee plans to hold a meeting Tuesday to discuss the government reshuffle, the agency said.

Ahmad Majdalani, a former Palestinian minister, said most of the key government ministries will be changed in the reorganization, including the foreign, health, economy, labor and justice ministries.

Mahmoud Alul of Fatah said scheduling elections would help the push for international recognition of a de facto Palestinian state, bypassing negotiations with Israel, The Wall Street Journal said.

"We are making this important move not because we are afraid of an uprising, but because our people are ready for elections," Alul said. "If we want the world to recognize our state, we must seize this opportunity and meet the requirements of statehood. Elections are one of those requirements."