Abbas tries to regain control

Ramallah: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in a decree appointed a political independent as head of an emergency government, new agencies reported.

The move follows his decision to dismiss the Fatah-Hamas unity government and declare a state of emergency following what he called a military coup in Gaza.

"The president charged Salam Fayyad with forming the new government," Abbas's advisor Hikmat Zeid told reporters in Ramallah.

But Hamas condemned the presidential decree as a "coup against legitimacy and a transgression of all laws".

Sacked prime minister Esmail Haniya has refused to accept Fayyad's appointment.

"The current government will exercise its duties in the best manner and will not give up its national responsibilities," he told AFP.

Under Palestinian basic law, the president has the power to sack the government and appoint an emergency cabinet in its place for a one-time renewable period of one month that does not require approval from parliament.

Following Abbas's emergency measures, Fatah gunmen made their presence felt in Ramallah in a show of force. Heavily armed soldiers patrolled the streets.

A commander with one of the five Fatah-affiliated security forces patrolling Ramallah, told Gulf News that his men were ready to remain for as long as needed.

"Some of the men are masked because they feel that they will be targeted by Hamas, but all we are doing is following the President's orders," he said.

Meanwhile, Western powers offered support to Abbas after Hamas routed his Fatah forces in the Gaza Strip.

Aid from US, Europe

The United States and European Union as well as the United Nations and Russia - the Quartet of Middle East mediators - offered a "clear message of support" to Abbas, Reuters reported. Jordan also rallied behind Abbas.

Arab foreign ministers met in Cairo yesterday in an emergency session on how to deal with the crisis in the Palestinian territories.

Washington, Europe and Israel prepared to throw open the taps on financial aid to Abbas that was cut off a year ago when Iranian-backed Hamas used its popularity in impoverished Gaza to defeat Abbas's Fatah faction in a parliamentary election, news agencies said.

- With additional inputs from agencies