Parliament to vote on Saturday

Gaza City: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah and Prime Minister Esmail Haniya of Hamas agreed yesterday to bring their unity government to parliament for a vote on Saturday. The new cabinet line-up will be unveiled today, officials from both sides said.

Ahmad Bahar of Hamas, who serves as acting parliamentary speaker, said Saturday's special session would begin at 11am (0900 GMT).

Lawmakers will discuss the unity government's political platform and hold a vote of confidence, he said. The biggest obstacle to an agreement has been over who will serve as interior minister, a position that controls several major security services.

Under the unity government agreement signed in Makkah last month, Hamas chooses the interior minister but Abbas has a veto.

Abdul Hakim Awad, Fatah's spokesman in Gaza, said: "This issue will be finalised either today or tomorrow at the latest."

The Hamas-led government's cabinet spokesman, Gazi Hamad, said: "Everything is nearly done."