Palestine:Rival Palestinian factions signed a deal to form a unity government after agreeing on the distribution of key cabinet posts at talks in Saudi Arabia yesterday, Al Jazeera television reported.
The report said delegations from the Islamist group Hamas, which won the last Palestinian elections, and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction would meet Saudi king Abdullah after the signing.
Earlier, Palestinian ambassador to Saudi Arabia Jamal al-Shobaki said: "We have agreed to form a national unity government. The agreement will be signed very soon."
Mr Abbas, Hamas chief Khaled Meshaal and Hamas prime minister Ismail Haniyeh met for the crisis talks after internecine fighting that has killed more than 90 Palestinians since December.
The leaders now want an end to an international boycott of the Hamas-led government. But Israel and the United States say Hamas must renounce violence, recognise Israel and commit itself to existing peace accords signed by the Palestinian Authority before sanctions can be lifted on any government which includes the Islamist movement.
Palestinian sources close to the talks said before the announcement of an agreement that Hamas was ready to "respect" the accords with Israel if they "did not contradict Palestinian interests". But Mr Abbas was seeking a clear statement that it would be "committed" to them to ensure the sanctions would end.
An explicit recognition of Israel was off the cards, Hamas spokesman Ghazi Hamad said. Fatah wanted Hamas to agree to a Fatah deputy prime minister to complement Mr Haniyeh if he retains the premier's post.
The deal on cabinet portfolios envisages former culture minister Ziad Abu Amr being nominated as foreign minister and Salam Fayyad as finance minister, a post he has held before.
Hamas is expected to suggest a neutral figure for the interior ministry post. Fatah would take five minor cabinet portfolios and Hamas would take eight, including economy, labour and justice. - (Reuters)