The Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie has postponed a parliamentary vote to approve a new cabinet after failing to muster majority support for a line-up widely seen as lacking reformists.
"The vote was delayed until tomorrow (Thursday) at 11 a.m.," parliament official Bassem Borhom told journalists.
It is the second such delay in a week, and could complicate efforts by President Mahmoud Abbas to overhaul the Palestinian Authority as he pursues peace efforts with Israel.
Earlier, Mr Qurie agreed to make sweeping changes to his new cabinet after it became apparent he would not win approval for the line-up he presented on Monday to a parliament demanding more reformers and fewer members of Yasser Arafat's old guard.
The new list may make it easier for President Mahmoud Abbas to press ahead with a promised overhaul of the Palestinian Authority as he pursues peace efforts with Israel.
Mr Abbas and a younger generation of pro-reform legislators in his and Mr Qurie's Fatah faction had tried in recent weeks to persuade
him to include more newcomers and technocrats.
Mr Abbas is under pressure from the United States and other international donors to revamp around a dozen often competing security forces.
Mr Qurie is still expected to retain some of his original choices, including Arafat loyalists such as Nabil Shaath, tipped to become deputy prime minister, and Saeb Erekat, a top spokesman.
In Gaza, Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, an armed wing of Fatah that has been behind attacks on Israelis, urged Mr Abbas to sack Mr Qurie, who was appointed by Arafat in 2003.
Prospects for peacemaking have brightened since Mr
Abbas succeeded Arafat last month on a platform of non-violence, and persuaded militants to abide by a de facto truce.