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US 'to unblock' Palestinian aid | US 'to unblock' Palestinian aid |
(about 2 hours later) | |
The US will lift a 15-month embargo on aid to the Palestinians once a new emergency government excluding Hamas is sworn in, a US diplomat has said. | |
US consul-general in Jerusalem Jacob Walles said there were no obstacles to re-engaging with the new government, which would have full US support. | |
Palestinian President and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas is expected to swear in a new prime minister on Sunday. | Palestinian President and Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas is expected to swear in a new prime minister on Sunday. |
He sacked the Hamas-led government after clashes left more than 100 dead. | He sacked the Hamas-led government after clashes left more than 100 dead. |
On Saturday, violence between the rival factions spread from Gaza to the West Bank, as Fatah gunmen stormed the Hamas-controlled Palestinian parliament building in Ramallah. | On Saturday, violence between the rival factions spread from Gaza to the West Bank, as Fatah gunmen stormed the Hamas-controlled Palestinian parliament building in Ramallah. |
Quartet backing | Quartet backing |
Mr Welles met President Abbas on Saturday and said afterwards that he expected announcements in Washington about "our assistance and about the financial regulations" early next week. | Mr Welles met President Abbas on Saturday and said afterwards that he expected announcements in Washington about "our assistance and about the financial regulations" early next week. |
Residents of Ramallah worried over futureIn pictures | Residents of Ramallah worried over futureIn pictures |
"There won't be any obstacles, economically and politically, in terms of re-engaging with this [emergency] government," he told Reuters news agency. | "There won't be any obstacles, economically and politically, in terms of re-engaging with this [emergency] government," he told Reuters news agency. |
The quartet of Middle East peace mediators - the US, Russia, the United Nations and the European Union - has also said it backs the decision to dissolve the Hamas led-administration. | The quartet of Middle East peace mediators - the US, Russia, the United Nations and the European Union - has also said it backs the decision to dissolve the Hamas led-administration. |
Western nations imposed sanctions on the Palestinians after Hamas, considered a terrorist organisation by the US and EU, won elections in January 2006. | Western nations imposed sanctions on the Palestinians after Hamas, considered a terrorist organisation by the US and EU, won elections in January 2006. |
Hamas has denounced the move to form an emergency administration as illegal. | Hamas has denounced the move to form an emergency administration as illegal. |
Last week, it ousted Fatah from Gaza after a week of fierce fighting. | Last week, it ousted Fatah from Gaza after a week of fierce fighting. |
On Saturday, Fatah gunmen seized the parliament building in Ramallah in the West Bank. | On Saturday, Fatah gunmen seized the parliament building in Ramallah in the West Bank. |
Q&A: Gaza chaos How Hamas took over In pictures: W Bank fighting | Q&A: Gaza chaos How Hamas took over In pictures: W Bank fighting |
Second deputy speaker Hassan Khuraishah, an independent, told the BBC he had been beaten up as he tried to prevent Fatah gunmen from raising their flag. | Second deputy speaker Hassan Khuraishah, an independent, told the BBC he had been beaten up as he tried to prevent Fatah gunmen from raising their flag. |
In a show of strength, Fatah supporters paraded around Ramallah, firing weapons into the air and chanting "Hamas out". | In a show of strength, Fatah supporters paraded around Ramallah, firing weapons into the air and chanting "Hamas out". |
Almost all Hamas politicians and prominent supporters in Ramallah have either fled or gone into hiding. | Almost all Hamas politicians and prominent supporters in Ramallah have either fled or gone into hiding. |
Fatah supporters also took over the Hamas-controlled legislative council in Nablus. | Fatah supporters also took over the Hamas-controlled legislative council in Nablus. |
Fleeing Gaza | Fleeing Gaza |
Meanwhile, hundreds of Fatah supporters are reported to have been fleeing Hamas-controlled Gaza by land and sea. | Meanwhile, hundreds of Fatah supporters are reported to have been fleeing Hamas-controlled Gaza by land and sea. |
SALAM FAYYAD Born in 1952 near West Bank city of TulkarmHolds a PhD in economics from the University of TexasWorked at the World Bank in Washington from 1987-1995IMF representative to Palestine until 2001Finance minister under the Fatah-controlled administration from 2002-2005Credited with cracking down on official corruption Profile: Salam Fayyad Gazans tell of fears | SALAM FAYYAD Born in 1952 near West Bank city of TulkarmHolds a PhD in economics from the University of TexasWorked at the World Bank in Washington from 1987-1995IMF representative to Palestine until 2001Finance minister under the Fatah-controlled administration from 2002-2005Credited with cracking down on official corruption Profile: Salam Fayyad Gazans tell of fears |
Gaza, and the much larger West Bank, are just 45km (30 miles) apart, but correspondents say they now look poised to function as two separate territories. | Gaza, and the much larger West Bank, are just 45km (30 miles) apart, but correspondents say they now look poised to function as two separate territories. |
President Abbas declared a state of emergency when he sacked the government of Ismail Haniya on Thursday. | President Abbas declared a state of emergency when he sacked the government of Ismail Haniya on Thursday. |
Mr Abbas has said he will rule by presidential decree until conditions are right for early elections. | Mr Abbas has said he will rule by presidential decree until conditions are right for early elections. |
His nominee for prime minister, Salam Fayyad, is a former World Bank economist, whose impending appointment Israel has welcomed. | His nominee for prime minister, Salam Fayyad, is a former World Bank economist, whose impending appointment Israel has welcomed. |
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