Abbas, Haniyeh at gridlock, unable to agree on minister of the interior, talks to resume on Wednesday

March 7, 2007

Gaza - Ma'an - Palestinian sources said that the consultations between Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh will be resumed on Wednesday.

Ma'an learned from informed sources that Abbas presented 12 names for ministerial posts, including former judges and well-known political independent figures for the post of minister of the interior.

Amongst the candidates were former judge Hamdan Abadla from Khan Younis, in the Gaza Strip, the former deputy for the Attorney General, Judge Mazin Salim from Gaza City, journalist and former Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) Central Committee member Talal Awkal, Director of Palestinian Centre for Human Rights in Gaza, Raji As Sourani, General Abdul-Razzaq Al-Yahia and former general Suleiman Hillis.

The Hamas movement nominated Hammoudah Jarwan, General Nasser Muslih, both of whom were rejected by Abbas.

Yesterday Abbas and Haniyeh met and discussed the issue of the comprehensive truce with the Israelis and the reformation of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) and the National Security Council.