GAZA CITY
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas will announce the formation of the unity government on Monday, a senior Fatah official said.
"Abbas will unveil the government lineup at 1:00 local time on Monday," Azzam al-Ahmad told Al-Ray news agency.
He said all members of the unity government will be sworn in before Abbas in Ramallah on Monday.
In late April, Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, and Fatah, which rules the occupied West Bank, hammered out a reconciliation deal with a view to ending the rifts that have marred their relations since 2007.
The deal stipulates the formation of a national unity government to serve until legislative and presidential polls can be held in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
The unity government was expected to be unveiled last week, but differences over the foreign affairs portfolio have delayed the announcement.
Fatah and Hamas earlier agreed to name West Bank premier Rami Hamdallah as prime minister of the new unity government.
By Mustafa Haboosh
www.aa.com.tr/en
