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Progress in key Palestinian talks Progress in key Palestinian talks
(about 1 hour later)
Officials from the rival Palestinian factions, Fatah and Hamas, have reported progress in crisis talks in the Saudi city of Mecca.Officials from the rival Palestinian factions, Fatah and Hamas, have reported progress in crisis talks in the Saudi city of Mecca.
They say they have agreed to give key cabinet posts to independents, overcoming a major stumbling block.They say they have agreed to give key cabinet posts to independents, overcoming a major stumbling block.
The factions are hoping to strengthen a fragile ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, and reach agreement on the programme of a national unity government.The factions are hoping to strengthen a fragile ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, and reach agreement on the programme of a national unity government.
Ministers have been named for finance and foreign ministries, officials say.Ministers have been named for finance and foreign ministries, officials say.
There has been no agreement on who should head the crucial interior ministry, though the factions are said to have agreed that it should be an independent figure. Reports say the new foreign minister will be Ziad Abu Amr, a former culture minister in the Palestinian Authority.
Previous negotiations have failed to resolve whether a new government should explicitly recognise Israel. KEY ISSUES Reported sticking points: Wording of commitment to previous Israeli-Palestinian agreementsPost of interior minister Areas of agreement: Principle of forming unity government Haniya to continue as PM Foreign and finance ministries to be headed by independent candidates class="" href="/1/hi/world/middle_east/6341829.stm">Press sees hope for talks Salam Fayyad is expected to be finance minister in any unity government. He has held the post previously.
The United States and Israel have said that any unity government must do so, as well as meet other conditions, before a financial boycott of the government will be lifted. There has been no agreement on who should head the crucial interior ministry, though the factions are said to have agreed in principle that it should be an independent figure.
The leaders of both Palestinian factions have said they will stay in Mecca until they reach a deal. A spokesman for Hamas, Ghazi Hamad, said: "Some issues have been tackled and some progress has been achieved here and there.
"In general, we are sparing no effort to reach an agreement as soon as possible."
The talks are in the second day. The leaders of both Palestinian factions have said they will stay in Mecca until they reach a deal.
Boycott
Previous negotiations have failed to resolve whether a new government should explicitly recognise Israel. It is not clear whether any progress has been made on this issue.
The United States and Israel have said that any unity government must do so before a financial boycott of the government will be lifted.
Other conditions include a renunciation of violence and an acceptance of previous Palestinian-Israeli agreements.
The political stalemate between the factions has spilled over into violence in recent months. More than 20 people died in clashes between the two sides last week.The political stalemate between the factions has spilled over into violence in recent months. More than 20 people died in clashes between the two sides last week.
As the talks began in earnest on Wednesday , King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia called on both groups to respond "to the voice of reason" and "stop this bloodshed".
But as their leaders talked through the night in Mecca, the gunmen back in Gaza fortified their positions in case the talks fail.