Abbas appoints new Palestinian PM

by BBC (reposted)

Fri, Jun 15, 2007 6:46AM

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas has appointed a new prime minister, a day after dissolving the Hamas-led unity coalition, officials say.

Former Finance Minister Salam Fayyad, an independent, has been asked to take over and form an emergency government.

The move comes amid political upheaval in Gaza, where Hamas has taken control after routing Fatah rivals.

But Hamas Prime Minister Ismail Haniya has said he will ignore Mr Abbas' decision to dismiss the government.

An uneasy calm has returned to the Gaza Strip after a week of fierce fighting between members of Mr Abbas' Fatah movement and Hamas, which has claimed at least 100 lives.

On its first day of rule, Hamas said it had released several top Fatah military commanders under a prisoner "amnesty".

Relative calm

On Friday, vehicles returned to the roads and shops were open in Gaza. Few armed men were visible on the streets and there were reports of only sporadic gunfire.

More
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/6756079.stm

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§Abbas picks independent Salam Fayyad as new PM

by Haaretz (reposted)

Fri, Jun 15, 2007 7:44AM

Finance Minister Salam Fayyad, an independent, has been chosen as the new Palestinian prime minister, an aide to Palestinian Chairman Mahmoud Abbas told an Arab TV satellite station Friday.

Fayyad, who is well-respected by the international community, would replace Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas, who was fired by Abbas on Thursday, after Hamas took control of Gaza by force.

Abbas aide Nabil Amr told the Al Jazeera satellite TV station that Fayyad had been selected as Haniyeh's successor.

More
http://haaretz.com/hasen/spages/871314.html

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