US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has denied the United States has decided to boycott all ministers of a Palestinian unity government now being formed.
In an interview with Al Arabiya television, she said Washington would reserve judgement on the new Palestinian government until it was formed but hoped it would respect the wishes of the Quartet of Middle East mediators that it accept existing interim peace accords and recognise Israel.
"There is no government so far and we will not judge it before its formation," she said.
A senior Palestinian official and diplomats said yesterday the United States would boycott all Palestinian unity government ministers, including those who were not members of Hamas, until it was satisfied the government had met the demands of the Quartet - the United States, European Union, United Nations and Russia.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas formally asked Prime Minister Ismail Haniyeh of Hamas yesterday to form a unity government and urged him to respect peace accords with Israel.
Haniyeh vowed to "work in accordance" with Mr Abbas's letter of designation but did not specifically say if Hamas would recognise the Jewish state or renounce violence.
Mr Abbas reached an agreement with Hamas in Saudi Arabia this month over the formation of a unity government aimed at ending a Western blockade in place since Hamas came to power in March.
Ms Rice is due to meet Mr Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on February 19th.